A Corradino inmate who says prison authorities are responsible for his transplanted kidney going to waste has filed an application requesting bail while his appeal is underway. 

Christopher Bartolo, 36, from Fontana, Gozo, was jailed for five years and fined €15,000 last April after he opted to plead guilty to trafficking 1.5kg of cannabis resin rather than undergo a trial by jury.

Mr Bartolo's lawyers had filed an appeal following the judgment, but he was nevertheless put behind bars. His appeal has not yet been appointed for hearing. 

A kidney transplant patient, Mr Bartolo’s health recently took a negative turn and he recently resumed dialysis treatment, with prison guards accompanying him to hospital on a regular basis.

READ: Inmate blames prison for loss of transplanted kidney

Mr Bartolo made headlines yesterday after he filed a judicial protest in which he said poor medical treatment at Corradino Correctional Facility, coupled with officials denying him organ transplant drugs, were to blame for his rapidly deteriorating condition. 

The 36-year-old has now applied for bail pending his appeal, saying conditions behind prison walls are harming his health and not suitable to his particular medical needs.  

It was also pointed out that prior to the April judgment, Mr Bartolo had been afforded bail and had always rigorously abided by all conditions imposed upon him by the court.

Stressing that none of the legal factors against the granting of bail subsisted and since the presumption of innocence always favoured the accused, the court of criminal appeal was asked to uphold the request for bail pending the termination of the appeal proceedings.

Lawyers Franco Debono Amadeus Cachia and Yanika Vidal signed the application.