Laptop seized from prison cell of Adrian Agius ‘Ta' Maksar’

Updated 9.40am Wednesday with Repubblika call for an independent inquiry.

Prison authorities are investigating a laptop found with broken security seals inside the cell of high-profile inmate Adrian Agius, known as Ta' Maksar.

Multiple sources close to prison confirmed the laptop was seized from his cell last week, and suspicions have since been raised that he was using the device to connect to the internet from his cell.

Agius, one of the Ta' Maksar brothers, is in prison for life. He was jailed this time last year over the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop. His brother and another associate were also convicted of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in the same trial.

Sources said that like other inmates undergoing educational courses within prison walls, Agius too had permission to keep a laptop exclusively for educational purposes.

Prison regulations state that inmates allowed educational laptops must source them from outside the prison, after which authorities sweep the hardware clean and physically seal all ports to prevent data transfer. Inmates are also strictly prohibited from accessing the internet.

However, a random search conducted last week revealed that the physical seals applied by the prison authorities to block Agius’ laptop’s data ports had been broken, exposing at least one port.

The ongoing prison investigation is currently trying to determine whether the seal was tampered with intentionally or if it degraded because of wear and tear.

Rumours are also circulating that Agius used the device to access WhatsApp or connect to the internet via the Burger King outlet Wi-Fi across the street from prison.

Times of Malta could not clearly verify this claim.

Other sources say he connected to one of the prison staff’s own Wi-Fi networks.

Experts are still working to confirm these claims.

If confirmed, the internet access would be a serious breach of prison security, raising concerns over an inmate’s ability to communicate with the outside world.

The incident was first flagged publicly on social media by lawyer Jason Azzopardi on Monday.

Agius moved to high-security division

Agius has been moved to the maximum-security Division 6 as a precautionary measure while experts inspect the device, thoroughly search his cell and investigate the case.

Regardless of whether Agius connected to the internet, or whether the damage to the laptop’s seal was accidental, sources said inmates must immediately report any damage to device seals.

And Agius failed to inform prison of his broken seal.

Times of Malta sent questions to the prison administration, asking whether any external communications had been intercepted from his laptop, and if a magisterial inquiry will be requested.

The reply confirmed little: “The Correctional Services Agency conducts daily and continuous security checks, including those carried out by its special operations unit, to detect and address any unauthorised activities,” a prison spokesperson said.

“During one such inspection, prison authorities promptly responded to the use of a digital device in breach of the rules in place, and necessary actions were taken immediately.”

Adrian Agius, Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio were condemned to life in prison in June 2025 after being found guilty of the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop.  Agius's brother Robert and Jamie Vella were found guilty of complicity in the 2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Repubblika demands an inquiry

Rule of law NGO Repubblika expressed its concerns about the goings on at Corradino and said the reports, if true, were extremely serious. 

The people, it said, had a right to know how this case had developed, who had allowed it, who had failed to prevent it, and whether crimes had been committed.  

An internal inquiry was therefore not enough. This was not just about breaches of administrative procedures but whether crimes had been committed. The issue should be investigated by an independent authority empowered to collect evidence, identify those responsible and ensure that justice is served, Repubblika said.