A suspended police inspector hurled insults at the Police Commissioner, broke down the common door of the residence of an assistant commissioner, and drove dangerously on the night of March 29, the court heard this morning.
Testifying in the compilation of evidence against Jeffrey Cilia who is pleading not guilty to threatening Police Commissioner John Rizzo, assistant commissioner Lawrence Cauchi and Superintendent Dominic Micallef in Floriana, Police Inspector Darrin Buhagiar said the investigation into Mr Cilia started following reports from a mobile squad car on March 29 at 9.30 p.m. that a BMW X5 was being driven dangerously and making certain manoeuvres trying to damage a police car.
The car belongs to Mr Cilia, who is also accused of threatening Police Inspector Louise Calleja, damaging the front door of her Sliema home and entering while in a drunken state.
Inspector Buhagiar said that a second report from the mobile squad car was received about half an hour later. It said that Mr Cilia had driven to the police headquarters and was stopped outside by two police squad cars which blocked his pass.
Insp. Buhagiar said that on the day, the Police Commissioner was entertaining an EU delegation at the headquarters and there were a number of high ranging officers present.
As the Commissioner was leaving the headquarters, he met Mr Cilia who was in his car near the main gate.
Commissioner Rizzo tried to calm Mr Cilia down as the latter was very agitated but Mr Cilia hurled insults at the Commissioner, calling him, among other things kabocca minn Bormla. This went on for about an hour.
Inspector Buhagiar said that at the time he called his superior Pierre Calleja who was very angry. Mr Calleja told him that Mr Cilia had broken down the common door of his residence.
Inspector Buhagiar said Mr Cilia kept telling the Commissioner that he had friends who were politicians and started calling someone called Jean Pierre. No last names were mentioned. At one point, Mr Cilia got hold of someone on his mobile phone, the Commissioner asked Mr Cilia to stop the call and asked for his phone.
Mr Cilia gave the Commissioner his phone after a lot of reluctance and Mr Cilia then warned the Commissioner, to whom he was talking through the passenger door, which was open, not to get into his private car.
Inspector Buhagair said Inspector Louise Calleja was also involved because Mr Cilia had sent her a number of threatening SMSes.
He said that at one point Mr Cilia told the Commissioner, 'your days are numbered'. The Commissioner asked him if that was a threat.
Also testifying this morning was assistant commissioner Neil Harrison.
He said that on the night in question he was been with the commissioner at a function at the police headquarters.
When they were leaving the building and nearing the front gate, a police constable who was manning the gate walked up to commissioner and told him that Mr Cilia was outside and it was a bit of a mess.
He said the Commissioner remained calm throughout the incident but Mr Cilia was very agitated and hurled insults at the Commissioner.
Mr Harrison told the court he overheard somebody say that Mr Cilia had accused the Commissioner of being involved in frame ups years ago.
Inspector Louise Calleja also testified but behind closed doors.
The case continues.