local news

Secret Service official and businessman give evidence

By Kurt Sansone

A number of people earmarked by the Police Commissioner, have given evidence in front of Magistrate Miriam Hayman, who is heading the inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against the Police Commissioner.

Among those who gave evidence was Godfrey Scicluna who is a senior member of the Secret Service and a long standing colleague of Commissioner George Grech.

Mr Scicluna had on more than one occasion allegedly acted as the Commissioner’s emissary in delivering gifts to the woman making the allegations.

Furthermore, among the people expected to testify is a certain businessman, Philip Attard from Zebbug. Mr Grech is a close acquaintance of Philip Attard. On a number of occasions Mr Grech has been seen on Mr Attard’s two yachts, which are moored at Ta’ Xbiex. The nature of the evidence to be given by Mr Attard is not clear.

Although no official date has been set for the conclusion of the inquiry, people close to the investigation told MaltaToday that the inquiry is expected to close in the weeks to come.

Legal sources told MaltaToday that the magisterial inquiry will than establish whether there is enough ‘prima facie’ evidence to start criminal proceedings. If there is enough evidence than the police will be duty bound to proceed criminally in court. The sources added that at this stage the Commissioner will definitely have to resign his post because of a conflict of interest.

The legal sources said that the case was unusual because in normal circumstances when a person suffers an alleged rape the case is reported to the police. The police than start criminal proceedings against the alleged perpetrator.

The sources added that in this case no official report was lodged with the police. A magisterial inquiry would certainly have to be ordered by either the Police Commissioner or the Attorney General, in which case it is highly unlikely that the Commissioner ordered this particular inquiry. The same sources doubted whether the Prime Minister could simply order an inquiry.

The husband of the woman making the allegations had met the Prime Minister on two occasions in December last year. The incident under investigation occurred in November last year at the woman’s house. The woman is alleging that George Grech went to her house and forced himself upon her. Clothes, subsequently stained, that the woman was wearing when the alleged incident occurred is key evidence to the investigation as is a framed portrait, which allegedly was a gift from the Commissioner.