Prison sets up 'solidarity fund' to help suspended warders
Corradino Correctional Facility has set up a “solidarity” fund which is being used to bridge the salary shortfall of two prison warders suspended on half pay over the alleged involuntary homicide of inmate Kim Borg Nicolas Virtu. The benevolent fund was set up in September, immediately following the publication of a magisterial inquiry report which had found shortcomings with regard to the two correctional officials. Workers, about 400, are contributing a percentage of their salary towards the fund every month, with most of them donating €10. The fund was a suggestion of the General Workers’ Union, of which the two suspended officials are members. Suspended CCF director Alex Dalli took up the idea and created the fund within days, sources said. The union is providing free legal assistance to Annabelle Cauchi, 51, from Żebbuġ, now retired, and Alison Vassallo, 41, from Fgura, who are facing criminal proceedings over the involuntary homicide of the 29-year-old Borg Nicolas Virtu. The pair are also charged with committing a crime they were duty-bound to prevent. Borg Nicolas Virtu was found unconscious in her cell on June 16 and died at Mater Dei Hospital three weeks later, on July...