|
Karl Schembri
The inquiry being conducted by retired Judge Franco Depasquale into the AFM soldiers’ beating of detained migrants at Hal Safi remains incomplete, almost two months since the incidents, as the country awaits his conclusions.
The judge is currently abroad and expected to return Tuesday although the main witnesses, including immigrants, soldiers and journalists, have already been interviewed.
The inquiry was held behind closed doors and no direction as to where its conclusions may be leading has come out publicly so far.
The incident saw 26 immigrants at the AFM detention centre severely beaten up by soldiers in full anti-riot gear during a peaceful demonstration.
Footage and photos filmed by journalists outside the Hal Safi barracks fence showed the AFM chief, Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, on site as soldiers beat the immigrants with truncheons while others egged on their colleagues to “smash those blacks’ faces in.”
Asked yesterday during his monthly press briefing, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he was “convinced the judge was doing a good job” but would not commit himself on the lengthy process.
“I know he has a long list of witnesses but I don’t want to influence or prejudice the inquiry,” Gonzi said.
During his press briefing a month ago, Gonzi had said he was “hoping that the inquiry is concluded as soon as possible, so that we can move on”.
|
