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Tests on clothes key to investigation

By Kurt Sansone

Forensic tests on alleged stained clothing may determine the veracity of the allegations of sexual harassment made by a former female probation officer against Police Commissioner George Grech.

It is unclear whether the tests have been conducted already.

The case, reminiscent of the Bill Clinton-Lewinsky saga, also focuses on an alleged hand-written card (in Maltatoday’s posession).

The inquiry has been going on since last January following two meetings that the husband of the woman making the allegations had with Prime Minister Fenech Adami.

Informed sources told MaltaToday that the husband had visited the Prime Minister on the 28 and 29 December of last year. Between both meetings, it is reported that Dr Fenech Adami had summoned Police Commissioner George Grech on the matter.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman was detailed to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the allegations and this kicked off in January. As yet no court case has been instituted against Mr Grech.

Both the woman and her husband have appeared a number of times in front of Magistrate Hayman, to give their side of the story.

The allegations concern a particular incident that occurred toward the end of November last year at the residence of the woman. However, it is understood that Mr Grech had known the woman for a number of years prior to the alleged incident because he was an acquaintance of her husband.

MaltaToday can also confirm that Secret Service agents have been following the woman ever since the incident occurred. The woman and her husband are believed to have contracted the services of a private security agency to protect them after receiving a number of threatening calls related to the case.

Over the past week Mr Grech has maintained his innocence and denied all the allegations brought against him. The Commissioner testified in front of Magistrate Hayman last Thursday. When the story broke in MaltaToday and Kullhadd, two Sundays ago, the Commissioner said that he knew nothing about the inquiry and learnt about it from the media. Mr Grech is head of the secret services.

Mr Grech is represented by Dr Joe Galea Debono.

Magistrate Hayman also summoned Dr Fenech Adami to appear in front of her on Friday. It is unclear when the inquiry is expected to be concluded.