Bogus boat claim denied
Documentation submitted to Italian judicial authorities
The Maltese authorities have "categorically" denied assisting illegal migrants with a phantom fishing boat instead of rescuing them.
The Italian magazine L'Espresso on Thursday reported that a ship carrying no marks or flags was assisting migrants on their way to Italy.
It claimed that Maltese soldiers disguised as fishermen were providing food, water and other supplies to migrants crossing the Mediterranean so they could continue on their journey instead of being rescued and taken to Malta.
"When an immigrants' boat or dinghy is found in distress, the Armed Forces of Malta have always acted in accordance with their international obligations," a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said.
"To conduct border control missions, the AFM uses patrol vessels and aircraft that are distinctly marked and registered as state assets. The AFM also advise the pertinent foreign authorities that an immigrants' boat is approaching their coast," the spokesman said.
The spokesman added that whenever immigrant boats intercepted by the AFM were not in distress and migrants expressed no desire to enter Malta, the army provided supplies and life jackets and monitored the progress of their boats until they reached the territorial waters of the country of destination.
Inquiries made at the Italian naval air wing, which patrols the area in question, do not indicate any knowledge of a "phantom fishing boat". All documentation at the air wing's disposal, including aerial photographs, on the behaviour of AFM patrol craft has been submitted to the Italian judicial authorities. Last month, five migrants on a dinghy were given fuel, food and water by Maltese soldiers and then escorted to Italian territorial waters. When they were intercepted by Italy they claimed there were another 73 migrants on board who had died of starvation and dehydration.
They had also claimed that five days before being rescued they were given food and water by a fishing boat, which then left them to fend for themselves. This account may have led to suspicions that this "phantom" fishing boat was the army in disguise as it later emerged they were given supplies by the Maltese army.
It has not yet been established whether there actually was a fishing boat that also gave them supplies but the Italian authorities are investigating.