Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547077
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS Magistrate blasts repeated prison escort delays as inmate misses court sitting MAGISTRATE Nadine Sant Lia was livid during her address over delays in bringing inmates before the court, warning the situation has become unacceptable and the matter will be raised with the prison director and the home af- fairs minister. The issue arose during Friday 9 October's morning court sittings, when the duty magistrate was hearing a series of cases, including arraignments and proceedings involving inmates who had to be escorted to the courtroom by cor- rectional officers. In one case, the court had been waiting for more than an hour for an inmate to be brought up from the holding area. The delay forced the magistrate to move on to other proceedings, including arraignments, while the inmate remained absent from the courtroom. At one point, Magistrate Sant Lia summoned a correction- al officer and reprimanded him over the situation, pointing out that such delays were a recurring problem and could no longer be tolerated. She insisted there were no ex- cuses for the "absurd time" being taken to escort inmates to the courtroom. "You need to put them in a lift and come up here," the magis- trate remarked, expressing disbe- lief at the length of time required to bring prisoners to the court- rooms. The disruption also had conse- quences for the accused's legal representation. His lawyer, who had been waiting for the case to be called, eventually had to leave to attend another court sitting. By the time the inmate was final- ly escorted into the courtroom, his lawyer was no longer present. The magistrate subsequent- ly dictated a formal note for the court record, expressing her dis- appointment at the delays and indicating that the matter would be brought to the attention of the Corradino Correctional Facility CEO Christopher Siegersma and Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield. Addressing the accused direct- ly, Magistrate Sant Lia explained that he had effectively lost his court sitting because of the delay, stressing the situation was unac- ceptable. With the accused's lawyer un- able to attend, the court was left with no option but to adjourn the case. The incident highlighted the disruption caused to court pro- ceedings by delays in transferring inmates from the holding area to the courtroom, with the magis- trate making clear that the recur- ring problem could no longer be allowed to continue. JAELLE BORG jborg@mediatoday.com.mt Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia IL-ĠIMGĦA FL-9.45PM FUQ TVM+