Police probe fight unaware of torture

Officers were deployed to investigate a fight in a Valletta residence earlier this month but did not know that a man was being tortured inside, a police inspector testified yesterday.

Inspector James Grech said that, on October 11 in the evening, the police received a phone call about a fight taking place in the residence of Vincent Attard in Republic Street, Valletta. When they went to investigate, Mr Attard answered the door and told them that the fight was over and that everything was fine.

Yet, at that point, Carmelo Muscat was inside the residence, with his hands bound and tied to the leg of a bed with a dog leash, the witness said.

Inspector Grech was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Attard, who stands accused of holding Mr Muscat against his will, seriously injuring, robbing and threatening him and relapsing.

Mr Muscat yesterday explained how he was bound and tortured for 11 hours at 109, Republic Street.

When he was about to leave the residence, Mr Attard, also known as Iċ-Ċappa, pulled a knife out of his pocket, held it to his neck and accused him of spreading stories about him.

Mr Attard held him at knifepoint and then tied his hands, hit him on the head with a wooden rod and then tied him to the leg of a bed using a dog lead, he recounted.

Replying to questions by the defence team, Mr Muscat said he cooperated when Mr Attard was tying him up because he feared he would be stabbed.

Mr Muscat said Mr Attard called Jason Caruana, known as Il-Killer, asking him to come over. He told Mr Caruana that stories had been spread about him as well.

He said Mr Attard also accused him of showing off with his girlfriend while driving around.

Some time into the ordeal, he was doused with petrol and Mr Attard held a lighter above his head and threatened to set him on fire. His mobile phone was destroyed.

Inspector Grech said that the day after the alleged attack, early in the morning, Mr Muscat had gone to the Valletta police station and filed a report about the incident. He was covered in blood and looked injured. In fact, the police took him to hospital for a check-up.

The officer said that someone had actually reported a fight going on in the evening at Mr Attard's residence and the police had gone to investigate. Mr Attard himself had opened his front door and said that the fight was over and the other man involved had left.

Mr Muscat was in fact upstairs with a piece of cloth in his mouth and ordered by Mr Attard to keep quiet.

Mr Attard also threatened to hurt him if he did not keep quiet while the police were there, the police inspector testified.

At one point Mr Caruana left the house, he said. Late in the evening, Mr Caruana had returned and found Mr Attard asleep and Mr Muscat crying. Feeling sorry for him, Mr Caruana released Mr Muscat who went to the police station to file a report about the incident.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for Mr Attard.