George Marrogi on hunger strike until he receives greater choice of kosher meals

Convicted murderer and drug trafficker George Marrogi has written a letter vowing he will not eat or drink until prison meal options are improved. See his requests.

Exclusive: One of the nation’s most uncontrollable inmates is on a hunger strike until he gets a greater choice of meals.

Convicted murderer and drug trafficker George Marrogi has written to Barwon Prison management vowing he will not eat or drink until a stoush over a lack of kosher meal choices is resolved.

Marrogi, who has converted from Christianity to Judaism while inside maximum security Barwon Prison, began his protest three weeks ago.

In a letter to the prison’s management written in his cell within the highly restrictive Acacia Unit in January, Marrogi complained that meals provided to Jewish prisoners appear to be given with a “take it or leave it” attitude.

“As you are aware, I have been on (sic) hunger strike for the past 7 days, and as promised, I have stopped drinking water from today,’’ he stated.

“It appears that your so-called ‘duty of care’ for prisoners is applicable only when it serves as a form of punishment against us.”

George Marrogi has argued the prison’s menu from which he can choose his meals is unsatisfactory, suggesting the addition of kosher salami.

Marrogi argued the prison’s “Kliens menu” [sic], from which he can choose his meals, is unsatisfactory.

“I cannot see why, for Heaven’s sake, there cannot be a special spend/canteen system that includes at least a dozen items specifically for Jewish prisoners to access,’’ he stated

“With only 16 (meals), I feel after years on that menu, that I am getting the same meals all the time and especially meals that I don’t enjoy or like at all.

“There is absolutely no rational reason of (sic) why there is a limit of only ordering 16 meals when they all cost the same and get delivered from the same place.

“ … what is the use of ordering 16 ‘different’ meals when I’m given the same meal sometimes 2-3 times a week?

“Every non-Jewish prisoner in the prison receives a significantly greater variety of meals, with the same meal only being repeated every 4 to 6 weeks.”

Kosher tuna was among the examples of food George Marrogi told the prison he wanted to order. Picture: Supplied

Marrogi specifically listed tuna (kosher Sirena), meats (kosher salami) and cheese, (kosher feta and mozzarella) as examples of foods he wanted to order.

Other prisoners jailed at Barwon were joining him on the hunger strike in solidarity, he stated, urging management to resolve the matter “urgently”.

Marrogi even offered to “sit down” with prison bosses to provide them with a full list of items from the Kosher Kingdom catalogue at his own expense.

“I am eager to address these concerns as soon as possible so that I can resume eating and drinking properly,” he wrote.

“Moreover, it is critical to resolve this matter urgently, as others have now begun a hunger strike in solidarity with me after witnessing the mistreatment first hand.”

A source aware of Marrogi’s food demands said he was being deprived of choice as a form of punishment.

Marrogi is serving a 37-year sentence for the 2016 murder of drug dealer Kadir Ors and also orchestrating major drug trafficking operations.

He was the founder of the Notorious Crime Family, which he formed from inside jail, and has consistently caused mayhem for prison guards.

Among his crimes as a prisoner, Marrogi, 35, and love-blind girlfriend Antonietta Mannella, 29, circumvented Barwon Prison’s security by pretending he was making legal calls to his lawyers only to orchestrate criminal activities from inside the jail.

In 2023, both Marrogi and Mannella pleaded guilty to high-level drug trafficking and importation charges.

Antonietta Mannella (left) with George Marrogi's sister Meshilin Marrogi, who died from Covid in 2021. Picture: Instagram

That same year, Marrogi used wires and a socket to set fire to his cell after being denied the use of a prison phone.

He blocked entry for guards to enter his cell as he fuelled the fire with toilet paper.

After being taken to hospital for chest pain, an X-ray revealed he had ingested an internet dongle which, after a year inside his body, was corroding.

The Middle-eastern organised crime figure’s behaviour towards prison authorities worsened the following year after the attempted theft and desecration of the body of his dead sister, Meshilin Marrogi.

During a stint at Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall, Marrogi sprayed human waste at a guard through his trap door shouting “Eat this shit you c …”.

A court heard last year Marrogi’s tit-for-tat feuding with prison guards was sparked by his belief he was a target for mistreatment by authorities.

Originally published as George Marrogi on hunger strike until he receives greater choice of kosher meals