Christian Peregin
Migrant dies after Paceville incident
Victim was also 'beaten' last year
Suleiman Abubaker who died on Tuesday.
A 28-year-old Sudanese migrant who died on Tuesday after being punched by a bouncer in Paceville is the same man who eyewitnesses had said they had seen being beaten in Paceville almost a year ago.
Suleiman Ismail Abubaker, who was a migrant with humanitarian protection, went to Paceville on Friday night two weeks ago and was refused entry into a bar because he was drunk. His two French friends were allowed in.
One of the French students accompanying him said in court that the bouncer punched Mr Abubaker, who fell to the ground and hit his head against the pavement. He remained there for a few minutes until he stumbled up and hung on to a signpost, only to be kicked by an unknown person.
He suffered a fractured skull and was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police sources.
A bouncer, Duncan Deguara, was accused of seriously injuring him but the police sources said new charges are now expected to be pressed against him after Mr Abubaker succumbed to his injuries.
Sources said Mr Abubaker was on his way to being resettled in the US.
The incident echoes another which Mr Abubaker was involved in last June. On the night, he and another immigrant were allegedly beaten by police officers in separate incidents.
Four officers were suspended, and one of them arraigned but the case eventually fell through for lack of evidence.
The court said that after taking into consideration the conflicting evidence of the police officers involved and that of the witnesses it could not find the police officer guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
On that night, Mr Abubaker was also refused entry into a Paceville club.
In an interview with The Times, Mr Abubaker had said the police had intervened after an argument he had with a Libyan man who made fun of him for expecting to be allowed in, seeing he was black. "How can you expect them to let you in when they don't let me in," the man had told him.
The Libyan ran away when the police arrived but Mr Abubaker was pounced on by the police and thrown into their van.
Mr Abubaker later pleaded guilty to assaulting officers and damaging a police van and was handed down a 10-month jail term suspended for two years and fined €300.
Mr Abubaker later explained that he did not know what was happening in court and he did not realise he had filed a guilty plea. "No, no I never said I beat policemen. I never did that."
His legal aid lawyer had not commented on this claim.
When interviewed about the incident, Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici had told The Sunday Times that "maybe the judicial system didn't work the way we want it to work".
In court, Mr Abubaker had not said anything about being beaten by the police. When asked why he said: "I just want peace. I don't want trouble... I want this thing to be closed".
Last year, he was convinced that the incident was racially-motivated, even though he refused to generalise and say the Maltese were racists. "I have been here since 2005 and I have never caused trouble. I never look for trouble... I have a lot of Maltese friends who are nice to me but then there are other people who hate me because of my skin. But I just say: Thank you, my friend, and leave. This is their country, how can I fight with them?" During the interview Mr Abubaker had sworn never to go to Paceville again.
When contacted, Mgr Philip Calleja was shocked by the news and was not in a position to comment. All he said was that despite having been involved in two serious incidents in less than a year, Mr Abubaker was not aggressive. "No... Not at all," he said, recalling that he had visited him in hospital the same day he died.
Meanwhile, Moviment Graffitti said this was not an isolated incident and that immediate action needed to be taken to tackle the rampant racism in Paceville.
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Michel Perrier
Sep 30th 2009, 16:34
I've been to Malta on vacation in july. Although I loved almost everything I saw, ate, did and although I've met wonderful people, I will never go to Malta again because of what I saw in Paceville.
I've seen bouncers from different clubs team up against a poor skinny guy who wasn't doing anything wrong as far as I could tell, maybe he said something but he weighted like 60 kilos, there was absolutely no need to hit him.
The police was nearby, they took the poor soul away from the onlookers and then came back to have a blast with the bouncers.
Bouncers and policemen obviously know each other, and if it weren't for the uniforms I wouldn't have been able to tell them appart.
So long, Malta, I hope you will solve your violence problems but I won't be coming back to check on you.
Mark Formosa
Jul 4th 2011, 14:32
Maybe you can sort out the issues in your country ...
J Oatmon
Jun 12th 2009, 08:58
@ Michelle Dali -
I disagree with your comment "Why should this incident reflect badly on tourism in Malta? Do you honestly think unfortunate incidents like this don't happen in any other tourist destination, or any other country in the world, for that matter?'
Violence reflects badly wherever it happens, just because it is happening in different places does not make it acceptable in any way - get this thinking out of your mind.
We need to stop unwarranted cowardly acts of violence wherever they happen (bouncers are not above the law. nor do they have 'special powers' above those of an ordinary person). Crime and murder happen all over the world, and we must not accept them as 'normal' or we will finish up like Somalia where the gun rules, and people live in fear.
Seyi Ogun
Jun 12th 2009, 01:38
Abubakar's destiny was cut short by a man like himself just because he felt like having some fun. No matter what attitude he put up that night, punching him was a wrong thing to do. 'The dead stay dumb,' Abubakar will not rise to defend himself, some might make a joke of this,it might even be meant as a deterrent to others,but the maker of mankind sees everything. It's sad some people cannot even see the gravity of the offence,I guess they would were Abubakar their own blood brother. There was no regard of any kind for the man's life from the way some spoke as if it served him right...Who do we know is the next victim of such bouncers that like to flex their muscles over trivial issues? Nothing is new to me about pv,some bouncers even try to start up a problem by addressing you wrongly. There's always a reasonable way to say no and not put an end to a life, and irrespective of race and colour lives ought to be valued.
Corinne Vella
Jun 11th 2009, 23:29
Ian Galea: I'm not sure I've understood your point. You seem to be saying that this man died because he asked for it. I hope you're not seriously suggesting that anyone who is drunk and, possibly, disorderly, deserves to die. If so, our towns and villages would be littered with corpses in the festa season, as would be Paceville on any random night of the year.
J Mallia
Jun 11th 2009, 23:06
Whatever Mr Abubaker said in the past or whatever he had done, he surly did not deserve to be beaten up by some bully and die like a dog...May God give him eternal peace.
gbartolo
Jun 11th 2009, 21:30
he was a gd dear friend of mine that when he meets u gives u a sincere hug.............no matter what...he didnt deserve to die. may the bouncer if convicted gets what he deserves.
Marcel Dingli
Jun 11th 2009, 18:59
To all those who mention the sign of Christ, Christianity etc. please note that Cato-Communism, that is the liberation theology, in simpler words mixing up the teachings of Marx with those of Christ, were condemned by the late Pope John Paul 2. Enough said. We have had far too much heresy.
Margaret Richards
Jun 11th 2009, 18:43
I'm to say the least horrified by certain comments - Mr. Abubaker said at a very difficult time he won't return to pv. But he did because he had every right of doing so. He had every right to go to the bar. The bouncers however had to right whatsoever to beat him up and kill him. I do believe that racism & xenophobia have reached a limit now. Hate groups are on the rise. I'm ashamed to say i live in Christian Malta surrounded by such holier than though people. I hope that justice will be done. I wonder how certain people who usually write very racist comments did not write anything today. Is it perhaps because according to them, this is justified??? Racism at its best!!!
Lee Bucham
Jun 11th 2009, 18:33
Please don't generalise as not all security are thugs and most take their job very seriously so most people can relax and enjpy themselves in a safe athmosphere. I doo agree that control is needed but maybe also some power to security officers. they have no right to handcuff or use spray on assailants to try and defuse the situation. I know today the have to be lecenced but could they carry a badge , handcuffs and a basic uniform. this would make things more legit.
Also there is CCTV in paceville now. can we finally put it to good use and not just use it to give parking tickets.
ray mizzi
Jun 11th 2009, 18:15
i am a maltese once in pv with my wife was asked to button my shirt 2nd button by bouncer, i complied; another time refused entry to a club cos of dress code that particular nite, i simply left, i seen bouncers ask maltese guys to take off piercings and they comply or simply leave. i only ask why didn t Mr Abubaker just leave?
do some immigrants use their skin color as an excuse that they are harassed ? people who visit PV surely seen the arrogance of SOME of these migrants groups and their approach to european ladies. in their culture they are the male dominant! do they expect to be the same every where? plse also note that some migrants are racist between them selves! could these be the causes of refusal of entry to pv clubs? have these people accepted our culture? or they expect us to accept theirs?
if a maltese drunk, or an unknown maltese sober guy or lady asks/demands entry to your property! would you let them in?
Honestly i consider this a very tragic incident which could have been avoided by simply leaving!
But I STRONGLY condemn unnecessary physical aggravation against anyone!
carmen caruana
Jun 11th 2009, 17:56
to all those saying that Mr.Abubaker was drunk. NEARLY ALL MALTESE AT PACEVILLE ARE DRUNK BUT NEVER BEATIN UP!!! Stand up against racism!!
Mark Montebello
Jun 11th 2009, 17:44
Who is to blame?
Me and you.
Who is to cry?
Me and you.
Who is to be ashamed?
All of us.
The sign of Christ
Has been upon us
For thousands of years
And yet is has failed
To make us decent.
At least.
Our institutions
Failed this man.
They have sent him
To his grave.
He ran from terror
Only to find
A worse oppression
And death
Amongst us.
But our feasts go on.
Our processions go on.
Our hollow religion goes on.
What is just one man
Compared to a nation content?
Oh, I cry!
Oh, I am so ashamed.
Michelle Dali
Jun 11th 2009, 17:24
@ J Oatmon
'We need to get rid of the thugs in Malta!'
Yes, we do. We also need to get rid of the thugs in the UK, and the rest of the world as well. Let's keep things in perspective. Why should this incident reflect badly on tourism in Malta? Do you honestly think unfortunate incidents like this don't happen in any other tourist destination, or any other country in the world, for that matter?
Ian Galea
Jun 11th 2009, 16:27
Corinne Vella: You are right, dead men cannot ask themselves questions. So I will ask a few then ... Why do I go back to Paceville when I have already been beaten there and I declared publicly that I would never return? ... Why do I get into trouble a second time after having been savagely beaten, even by the police allegedly, when I got into trouble the first time? ... Do I have to get into a fight if a Libyan man made fun of me for expecting to be allowed in?
Corinne Vella
Jun 11th 2009, 13:58
Ian Galea: Several eyewitness had seen Mr Abubaker beaten. One of those witnesses was arrested too. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080706/local/immigrant-insists-he-did-not-assault-the-police. Dead men cannot ask themselves questions, nor can they say anything in their own defence. In this particular case, the man was unable to defend himself even when alive.
Joanne Micallef
Jun 11th 2009, 13:53
In no way do I agree with how the bouncer tackled the situation, as in my opinion someone in that line of duty should know how to be firm without being violent. What I do know is that every club has it's door policy, some won’t even let you in if you don’t have the right look no matter the colour of one’s skin.
So let’s not jump into conclusions and although the unfortunate victim happened to be African, this does not necessarily mean that the victim’s race had anything to do with how the bouncer behaved.
marr jones
Jun 11th 2009, 13:18
i hope this will not cause a problem here, the goverment should pls do something about it fast, and to those that hate people because they are not the same skin colour like them, should pls remenber that it is the same colour of blood that we all have, the blood in the blood bank , pls has no skin colour tag on them, so what is the problem, pls who is better then who
Ian Galea
Jun 11th 2009, 12:36
"Victim was also 'beaten' last year" ... "Mr Abubaker later pleaded guilty to assaulting officers and damaging a police van and was handed down a 10-month jail term suspended for two years and fined €300" ... "During the interview Mr Abubaker had sworn never to go to Paceville again." ... "an argument he had with a Libyan man who made fun of him for expecting to be allowed in, seeing he was black."
This poor soul surely didn't deserve to die and the bouncer should be locked up for a very long time if he is guilty ... but if Mr.Abubaker was still alive he should ask himself some questions.
I was never refused entry to any bar in Paceville, maybe because I am not black but maybe ... just maybe because neither am I a troublemaker!!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jun 11th 2009, 11:27
Leonardo Vince....So the fact that people of all races receive similar treatment escapes you? So they should only be educated in how to treat coloured people?
Have you ever realised that your rhetoric is what makes rasicm exist in the first place?
As to your advice,
I'm terrified that we'll soon have squads of terrorist armies from many countries roaming the islands blowing up bars......
We'll also have terrorist anti hunting squads spiking our drinks etc etc...rather fanciful don't you think?
MICHAEL SOUTHGATE
Jun 11th 2009, 11:17
PERHAPS THE MORAL IS, DON'T GET DRUNK AND EXPECT TO BE ALLOWED INTO CLUBS!
I'VE YET TO MEET A "DRUNK" WHO CAN BE REASONED WITH!
Mark-Anthony Fenech
Jun 11th 2009, 11:14
this is outrageous.. enough is enough now..
J Oatmon
Jun 11th 2009, 11:13
This sort of disgrace really harms tourism in Malta.
Why spend millions advertising Malta as a safe holiday destination, when spending a few thousand and re-training the police to act against these 'bully boy bouncers' can stop this appalling rough stuff once and for all time.
All bouncers with a criminal record must find another job - the police must verify each one is crime free and of good character, and sign a statement which becomes a public record document. Then they all need to be licensed, and only then issued an ID which they must display at all times.
We need to get rid of the thugs in Malta!
Carmelo Palmier Cecy
Jun 11th 2009, 10:56
We look up to the police and hope ( nay, we expect) that they would control the Paceville situation. Whether its the bouncers or the racists or the drunkards that are causing this trouble, the civil authorities are in duty bound to see that the police regularise the way of life in Paceville. The have the power; and power carries with it a lot of responsibility.
Let us pray for the repose of our brother Suleiman.
Corinne Vella
Jun 11th 2009, 10:52
Leonard Vince: The danger of mistreating anyone is made clear in this report. The man died. There is no justification.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jun 11th 2009, 09:47
It is high time that all bouncers are controlled. In the past I have seen people with known criminal records working as bouncers.
It is shameful. This is the second death that I know of attributed to these so called security personnel.
I have witnessed countless beatings, and when the police WALK up, they usually tend to move the victim off, or even back the bouncers.
One mistake that we could make is to focus on the fact that this is a race related crime.
Whilst acknowledging that some bouncers might be ra cist, it is important to point out that these people regularly beat on people of all nationalities, including Maltese. Ask any youth who frequents the Paceville area, and they will confirm.
A bouncer I knew once told me, that they were always spoiling for a fight.' What do you expect?' he told me, everyone enjoying himself and we're working nights!
c.caruana
Jun 11th 2009, 09:30
I'm sorry my friend!! hope you're somewhere better!!
leonardo vince
Jun 11th 2009, 09:27
The savage treatment meeted out to coloured people at Paceville may instigate some awful response from some terroristic unit fighting racism in the world, including Malta.
All those involved, bouncers and owners, should be educated about the danger of mistreating coloured people without any justification.