A magisterial inquiry into the suspicious death of a Nigerian migrant who escaped from the Safi detention centre in April 2011 is expected to be concluded shortly, The Times has learnt.
A “crucial” report on some tests that were carried out abroad was only finalised and presented to the inquiring magistrate this week.
Contacted by The Times, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona said the report was the cause of the delay and its arrival allows him to conclude his inquiry.
Four detention officers and a soldier who, the government said, were “directly involved” in the migrant’s demise have been waiting to learn their fate for 15 months.
The case received fresh attention this week following the death over the weekend of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara who was certified dead in a Detention Service van after he was captured following his escape from the Safi detention centre.
Two soldiers have been charged with his murder. A third, who was accused of tampering with evidence, had also been mentioned in a report drawn up about last year’s incident but no action was recommended against him.
The Attorney General this week filed a court application asking for an explanation of the delay insisting that magistrates are obliged by law to submit reports whenever such inquiries took longer than 60 days to be concluded.
The case of Ifeanyi Nwokoye, 29, dates back to April 2011 when a group of seven migrants escaped from Safi. Mr Nwokoye was captured and died in hospital some time later.
The government had appointed an independent board of inquiry, headed by Martin Scicluna, which submitted its findings in August. A summary was published in October when the government said the full report would be published when the magisterial inquiry was concluded. The government said the Scicluna report did not recommend any steps to be taken against the four Detention Service officers but did not make the same caveat for the soldier, who has since been transferred from working with migrants in detention.
It is not known whether the four Detenction Service officers were also transferred pending the outcome of the magisterial inquiry.