Man deported over Swieqi vandalism and public disturbance

The Malta Police Force has deported a 27-year-old man back to India after being charged in court over an incident in Swieqi where he commited vandalism and public disturbance.

The man had been taken to court over an incident in Swieqi, where he was accused of vandalising a car and a motorbike. He was also charged with disturbing the public peace through shouting and fighting, as well as being drunk in public. 

He pleaded guilty to all charges. Besides being handed a suspended prison sentence, the court also recommended that he be deported from Malta.

The case comes against the backdrop of recurring anti-social behaviour reports from Swieqi, particularly during Malta's peak tourism season. 

Local residents have repeatedly raised concerns over incidents in the area, including a case in July when police fined 12 people after they were filmed throwing glass bottles off a roof, with the Malta Tourism Authority later finding the property in breach of its licensing conditions. 

The case happened at the start of August, with footage circulated online showing a group of young men in Triq il-Keffa, one of whom was seen punching a car mirror until it fell off.

Efforts to tackle the problem have since stepped up further. Earlier this week, the Armed Forces of Malta deployed personnel in Swieqi to work alongside the Police and strengthen security in the locality at night. 

In a Facebook post, Swieqi Deputy Mayor Jordan Galea Pace said the man had admitted to the charges, paid for the damages, and had now been referred to the Immigration Office for deportation proceedings.

He thanked the Police for their work and credited residents who provided the CCTV footage that helped identify the person responsible.

"This is the result when residents, the Local Council, and the Police work together," Galea Pace said, adding that the message was clear: those who came to Malta and respected the country were welcome, but those who broke the law would face consequences, including deportation depending on the severity of the case.