Nurse tells court he transported prison envelope without knowing contents in Erin Tanti case

A nurse who transported an envelope out of a prison facility told a court Monday that he was unaware of its contents and had simply been assisting a colleague when he did so.

Charge nurse Silvio Todaro testified that the incident took place around April or May 2025. He explained that another nurse had handed him the envelope and asked him to deliver it to the gatehouse, where someone was waiting to collect it. Todaro said he complied, describing the task as consistent with his normal duties.

He added that he assumed the envelope contained some form of medical specimen, noting that it was not flat. He said that in his line of work it was common to handle items such as saliva, urine, or other biological samples for testing.

The testimony was heard before Magistrate Leonard Caruana during the compilation of evidence against Erin Tanti, his partner Marisa Gallo, and St James Hospital owner Josie Muscat. All three have pleaded not guilty to charges linked to allegedly carrying out an unauthorised medically assisted reproduction procedure.

Prosecutors have indicated they will not be pursuing criminal action against Todaro.

According to the allegations, Tanti, aged 34 and currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, is believed to have managed to have his semen removed from the correctional facility. Investigators suspect that the sample was later transported to a clinic, where it was allegedly used in an insemination procedure involving his 41-year-old partner.

Authorities also believe a prison doctor may have assisted in facilitating the transfer of the sample. The doctor has since been suspended but has not been formally charged.

The accused face charges related to the unauthorised transfer of human cells. Muscat, aged 82, is also facing additional charges concerning the use of unlicensed premises for a medical procedure and failing to comply with regulatory obligations tied to such treatments.

Todaro told the court that when he arrived at the gatehouse, he handed the envelope to a man who was waiting there, but said he could not recall further details about the individual.

Jason Azzopardi, Nicolai Bugeja, and Joseph Bugeja represented Muscat. Lawyer Franco Debono and Matthew Xuereb assisted Tanti and Gallo.

The prosecution was being led by police inspector Lydon Zammit and Stephen Gulia.

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