Santa Maria Capua Vetere – He died in his cell at just 35 years old, just 24 hours after his arrest. Mamadou Sylla, a Senegalese citizen living in Casagiove and integrated into Italy for years, died in the Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison.
The Santa Maria Capua Vetere Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating the case, which has already raised questions and calls for transparency, and has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Sylla, a tailor at the prestigious Isaia&Isaia company in Casalnuovo di Napoli, was stopped on Thursday 25 September by the Caserta railway police.
According to the officers' reconstruction, the young man—clearly agitated—attacked a man, stealing his cell phone, and then, shortly thereafter, an elderly woman. Three railway police officers reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to subdue him.
Sylla was accompanied to the Caserta hospital for first aid, then taken to the offices of the Polfer and finally transferred to the penitentiary of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, where a few hours later he was found lifeless.
The defense's doubts and the request for truth
Representing the family is lawyer Clara Niola, who emphasizes the need to verify the appropriateness of the care received by the 35-year-old.
"The family only knows that Mamadou was administered medications in short intervals," the lawyer explains. "It's crucial to understand whether those treatments were compatible with his condition and whether their close administration was truly necessary."
Mimma D'Amico, head of the former Canapificio social center in Caserta, an organization that had supported Sylla since his arrival in Italy, also echoed the request for clarity:
«He had managed to build an independent life for himself, with a stable job and a relationship with an Italian girl who is now in shock.
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The issue of prison healthcare
The case is part of a long-standing critical context regarding healthcare in Campania's prisons. Just a few days ago, during a Senate hearing, the guarantor of prisoners The province of Caserta has raised a new alarm: there is a shortage of doctors, psychologists, and essential healthcare professionals to ensure adequate care for an increasingly vulnerable prison population.
According to data released by the Guarantor, the number of healthcare professionals in the region's main penitentiaries—including Poggioreale, Secondigliano, and Santa Maria Capua Vetere—is insufficient to meet demand.
The consequences fall both on inmates with chronic illnesses and on those who, like Sylla, exhibit agitation or behavioral disorders that require timely and continuous medical monitoring.
Overcrowding, combined with a shortage of healthcare professionals, fuels a growing risk of tragic incidents. Sudden deaths in cells, suicides, and emergencies not addressed promptly are signs of a system under pressure, incapable of guaranteeing what should be a fundamental right: healthcare protection even behind bars.
A case that becomes a symbol
The death of Mamadou Sylla is not just a private tragedy that leaves his family and the community that knew him in deep grief. It also reflects a structural problem that politicians can no longer ignore. The investigation must clarify whether there was direct responsibility or negligence in the care provided to the 35-year-old.
But beyond the courtroom, the case reignites the debate over the right to healthcare in Italian prisons, particularly in Campania, where for years the penitentiary system has struggled with chronic deficiencies and living conditions often incompatible with respect for human dignity.
Comments (1)
It's sad that a life ended so soon, just 35 years old. I wonder if there were shortcomings in prison healthcare and whether the care was adequate. Prison healthcare is a serious issue.