Police constable acquitted of injuring suspect during arrest

A 41-year-old police officer was acquitted on Monday of causing slight injuries to a suspect during an arrest that took place on 24 August 2024.

The case stemmed from claims by 27-year-old Nathan Camilleri, who alleged that Alan Joseph Abela assaulted him during the arrest. 

The charges against Abela were aggravated by his role as a public official, which placed him under a legal obligation to prevent such conduct.

Camilleri, who is unemployed and has no fixed address, had been arraigned court on 25 August, where he was remanded in custody after being charged with cocaine possession and assaulting police during the same incident. He denied those charges. 

He was also accused of using obscene or indecent language and behaviour in public.

He was arrested after police acted on a report of suspicious behaviour. 

Camilleri later alleged that he was also assaulted during the arrest, sustaining slight injuries. Following these claims, the arresting officer, Abela, was charged.

During proceedings,  Superintendent Mario Haber told the court he had been informed of a case involving a person who acted aggressively and caused a disturbance. He said the investigation relied on witness statements and bodycam footage, which showed Camilleri’s behaviour. He added that CCTV footage did not indicate that Abela had injured Camilleri.

Inspector Eman Hayman also testified that the case was based largely on statements and video evidence, including CCTV and bodycam recordings. These showed Camilleri behaving aggressively and being involved in a confrontation that led to his arrest . Despite some limitations in camera visibility, Hayman stated that the evidence confirmed Abela never struck Camilleri.

The court noted that police affidavits and testimonies showed that Camilleri had been aggressive during his arrest and even while being transported in a police vehicle. 

However, the evidence did not clearly or conclusively prove that Abela caused any injuries. The court ruled that the essential element of the offence had not been proven. Abela was found not guilty.

In the same year, Nathan Camilleri was handed a nine-month effective jail sentence and fined €1,000 in relation to his assault on Abela. He was also given an additional 24 months for committing the offences during the operative period of a suspended sentence. 

The judgment was delivered by Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace.

The accused was assisted by lawyers Herman Mula and Silvan Pulis.