Indian migrants in two botched escape bids

A former Sudanese refugee now a Maltese citizen yesterday started facing a trial by jury for allegedly trying to help four Indians leave the island four years ago.

The escape, by boat, was not meant to be because they failed to leave twice. In the first attempt on November 21, 2005, they lost hold of the boat when launching it and it ended up drifting into the middle of Grand Harbour before being picked up by a patrol boat. The second attempt, two weeks later, on the night of December 4, was botched because of a faulty engine, Police Inspector Mario Haber testified yesterday. The four Indians, Harpred Singh, Hanar Parbinder, Vasden Singh and Faqir Chand, called for assistance after finding themselves in difficulty just four miles out.

When they were questioned the next day they gave the address, car register number and phone numbers of the accused, 39-year-old Gamil Abu Bakr, saying he was the man whom they had paid to help them leave the island.

The accused had arrived in Malta in 1995 as a refugee and had since married a Slovenian woman, had two children and obtained Maltese citizenship, the inspector said.

The Indians arrived illegally from Libya in May 2005 and met Mr Bakr at the Ħal Safi detention centre while he was visiting friends. He offered to help them flee on a boat.

In their statements to the police, the men said they had paid the accused €2,330 in two instalments, first paying €1,398 and then €932.

The Punjabi-speaking Indians told the officer that two months before the first attempt they escaped from the detention centre. One night they were taken by the accused to an area in Valletta to make their escape bid. But the boat slipped out of their grasp and drifted away.

Two weeks later they tried again and boarded a small open deck 13-foot Fletcher boat, only to make it just four miles out before having to call the Armed Forces of Malta for help. The boat was rocking badly and there were problems with the engine but none of them knew what to do, so they called for assistance. At 12.45 a.m. on December 5, they were picked up by a patrol boat, the inspector said. With detailed information about Mr Abkr in hand, the police looked for him and traced him at his flat in Mellieħa. They arrested him but he denied any involvement.

In his statement to the police, Mr Abkr said he knew a lot of Indians. He only knew the four, though, because he had once tried to help them find an apartment.

The Indians have since returned to their homeland. The case continues. Lawyer Lara Lanfranco, representing the Attorney General, prosecuted.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared for the accused.