‘I would have killed myself if I stayed another day in jail’

Osman Omar broke down on the phone when he was given the news that he could finally leave the Corradino prison last Friday, after spending five years there without trial. And the news did not come a moment too soon.

What can I say, there’s nothing like freedom

“I made up my mind to kill myself on Monday. I swear I would have done it if I did not get word that I would be allowed out,” the Somali told The Sunday Times yesterday, pointing to a scar on his throat from a previous attempt. “I would have killed myself if I stayed another day in prison”.

The 31-year-old has spent virtually enough time in prison to serve out a sentence for the charge he is facing – complicity to rape.

Yet, despite the prospect of him walking free in the event of a conviction, he has refused to take legal advice to plead guiltyand vehemently protests hisinnocence.

He was released on Friday, three weeks after two Englishmen – Michael Owen and Jeremy Cope – pledged to honour his bail conditions which include financial collateral as well as providing him with a place to stay.

However, the bail procedure was delayed after presiding Judge Michael Mallia sent the papersto the Attorney General forconsultation.

The judge also made a request for evidence of Mr Cope’s financial standing. After that too was filed, the judge sent the matter back to the AG’s office, this time allowing four days time for the reply.

“During all this time, I was going crazy. People in prison were telling me all sorts of things... that I should have been released if I was given bail... I thought I was in for it again,” Mr Omar said.

Every day he would call his lawyer and was given hope that the release should be round the corner. “After some days I started losing hope and made up my mind to end it. Then on Friday, the news came.”

The AG’s response arrived on Wednesday and two days later the bail decree was issued with stringent conditions. Mr Omar has to sign at the local police station every day between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m. but then has to be back home by 10 a.m.

“The signing bit is reasonable but the curfew is draconian, to say the least,” Mr Cope said, pointing out that it will be next to impossible for him to find a job if he only leaves the house for two-and-a-half hours.

“Our intention was always to help Osman integrate back into society after five years of incarceration. Finding a job is key to this and the curfew puts a hurdle in the way of this process,” he insisted.

During all this time, I was going crazy

Mr Omar seems to be in a less combative mood, at least for the time being. “I should have been given a better curfew, it’s going to be very difficult to see my eight-year-old son in Valletta and I cannot find a job this way but I think with time we’ll get the courts to improve things.”

Sitting by the pool at the English couple’s home yesterday, he was lost for words when asked to describe how he feels now that he is out of Corradino.

He looked up at the blue sky instead, smiled, and said: “What can I say, there’s nothing like freedom. I spoke to my son this morning and told him I would go to see him. He couldn’t believe it and asked if I was getting it wrong and meant he would be coming to see me. Now I’m free thanks to these two who have stood by me. Now I can fight to clear my name.”

The case goes back to 2007, when a Maltese woman was gang-raped by three African men in the precincts of the Marsa Open Centre.

Mr Omar was charged, along with another two Somalisand a Sudanese man, withcomplicity.

DNA samples were taken but proved negative, unlike two of the co-accused, whose semen was found on the victim.

The only evidence that ever connected Mr Omar to the case was the testimony of a friend of the victim, who said he had at one point seen Mr Omar carry the woman.

The victim herself – who was severely drunk throughout the ordeal – corroborated her friend’s version but none of them placed Mr Omar at the scene of the rape at any point in time.

Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Franco Debono are now representing Mr Omar.