The Chamber of Advocates has defended its decision to stage a one-day strike after fresh concerns emerged over allegations that confidential conversations between inmates and their lawyers may have been monitored inside Corradino Correctional Facility.Speaking during a press conference today, the Chamber said the industrial action was necessary to protect one of the most fundamental rights in the justice system: legal professional privilege.The strike saw lawyers across Malta and Gozo abstain from attending court hearings, tribunal sittings and other proceedings, leading to the postponement of the vast majority of cases scheduled for Monday.According to the Chamber, concerns first arose after information and subsequent court testimony suggested surveillance equipment had been installed in consultation rooms used by inmates, including areas where they met with their lawyers.While there is currently no evidence that conversations between lawyers and clients were recorded, the Chamber argued that the mere presence of monitoring equipment in such rooms is deeply troubling.“This privilege exists so that an accused person can speak freely to their lawyer without fear of being overheard,” the Chamber said, describing lawyer-client confidentiality as a right protected by both the European Convention on Human Rights and decades of case law.The Chamber revealed that it had privately raised the issue with Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield earlier this month, requesting confirmation on whether surveillance extended to lawyer consultation rooms, what safeguards were in place and whether an independent inquiry would be launched.It said the responses received from the government failed to directly answer those questions.The controversy centres around allegations that listening devices were installed in certain prison rooms in 2020 and 2021 following requests linked to security operations involving high-risk inmates.According to testimony cited by the Chamber, surveillance systems were present in more than one room, although officials claimed recordings would be stopped whenever lawyers entered.The Chamber, however, said it remains unconvinced that the safeguards were sufficient and questioned why such equipment was permitted in rooms used for privileged legal consultations.Following unanswered requests for clarification, the Chamber filed a judicial protest against several state entities and later issued Monday’s strike directive.The government has strongly denied that any privileged lawyer-client consultations were intercepted and insists legal professional privilege was always respected.However, the Chamber is now calling for an independent inquiry to establish exactly what happened and whether the rights of inmates and their lawyers were ever compromised.The issue has sparked wider concerns about the integrity of criminal proceedings and whether any alleged surveillance could have affected cases involving inmates who met with their lawyers during that period.The Chamber said it remains open to discussions with the government, revealing that talks with Justice Minister Jonathan Attard had already begun and would continue in the coming days.Do you support the lawyers’ decision to strike over the allegations?•