Malta ‘takes exception’ to RSF calls for independent probe into Caruana Galizia murder

The Maltese government has taken exception to a call from Reporters Sans Frontieres calling for an independent probe into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The statement comes after RSF reiterated its call for an independent international investigation into her death and a day since the International Federation of Journalists called for an impartial investigation after three men were charged with her murder.

“All actions taken in the course of the investigation were in accordance with the law and respected all procedural guarantees including the rights of defense,” the government said in a statement.

Malta said RSF should “adopt a balanced approach in commenting on the investigation and to acknowledge the need to respect the independence of the Maltese judiciary and the right to a fair trial.”

RSF said the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was not conducted independently, was not international in nature and also implied that the government is giving political cover to persons implicated in the murder.

“In the nearly two months since Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death, the authorities have been unable to show that they are conducting their investigation in an impartial manner, so we support the family’s request and we call for an independent international investigation to establish all the facts of her shocking murder,” said Pauline Adès-Mével, the head of RSF’s EU-Balkans desk said in the RSF statement.

The Maltese government insisted that there was absolutely no basis for such claims.  

“Our forces of law and order and those of various countries and also international organisations such as Europol and the FBI made substantial and valuable contributions to the investigation which led to the arraignment of three suspects in Court on the 5th December 2017,” the statement said.

The statement said the announcement of the breakthrough in the investigation by the Prime Minister demonstrated the importance which Government was giving to this case, rather than diminishing its value as RSF implied. The Government did not release the names of the suspects and went to great lengths to respect the presumption of innocence.

“Contrary to what was claimed in the statement, the Maltese Police stated that the arrest warrants were issued to them by the investigating (inquiring) magistrate in charge of the case.  The investigating (inquiring) Magistrate enjoys the trust of family Caruana Galizia.”