Complainants 'misled by prosecution' in police inspector bribery case

A lawyer representing the interests of a couple who reported a police inspector for bribery has told a court that the couple were duped by investigators into thinking that the inspector would only undergo internal disciplinary action.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana, 34, was this morning indicted for allegedly requesting a €4,000 bribe from a couple who moved into a flat previously occupied by two prostitutes, whose conviction and imprisonment he had secured.

Superintendent Alexandra Mamo testified that on 22 September a certain Karen Busuttil had filed a report against Inspector Sultana, alleging that he had requested a bribe. Mamo said that when she was made aware of these allegations, she had informed Assistant Commissioner Martin Sammut, who requested she investigate the matter further.

Subsequently, Busuttil and her boyfriend Kevin Attard had visited a police station and alleged that the accused had been investigating Gzira resident Theresa Cutajar and her partner on suspicions of prostitution. Cutajar’s residence was vacant owing to the fact that the couple had ended up in prison.

Attard and Busuttil alleged that after this had happened, the accused had summoned them to his office and claimed that he was due “something in return.” The couple handed him €800, which they had kept in their car to pay their electricity bills.

The couple claimed that the inspector’s demands continued and the amounts paid added up to €4,000. They also alleged that the inspector had also asked for 1% commission on a property transaction which he had brokered.

However at the beginning of the sitting, lawyer Edward Gatt, who is appearing parte civile for Attard and Busuttil, had told the court that his clients had been misled into believing that the inspector would only be subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, in the last sitting the couple had been informed by a member of the police force that they would also be facing criminal charges.

In view of this, said the lawyer, his clients would not be testifying in this case.

Magistrate Anthony Vella decreed that the court had been shown sufficient prima facie evidence to place the accused under a bill of indictment.
Lawyer Robert Abela is appearing for Sultana.