Updated - adds background - A police sergeant who is at the heart of a controversy after he was photographed in a gentleman's club has explained his presence and denied wrongdoing.
The police are investigating the case after the sergeant allegedly threatened and manhandled the 30-year-old man who photographed him, at the club in Paceville.
Sergeant, Ramon Mifsud Grech said that he had been called to the club to investigate a report that a man had held a knife against someone’s throat.
He said he had not been drinking but had been talking to the victim of the knife incident, about which a man will be charged in the coming days. He then heard a commotion at the back of the club. He denied having asked the man who took the pictures for his mobile phone or taking the memory card.
“I asked him why he was taking pictures of me and he started getting loud,” the sergeant said, insisting the man was never manhandled, handcuffed or arrested.
In 2012, the police sergeant along with two other officers and a bouncer was cleared of holding a French student against his will in 2009 after a prosecution error alleged the incident took place at 11pm when was actually 3am. During that court case in April, it was claimed that Mr Mifsud Grech was the same officer who was allegedly assaulted by suspended Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia who is facing charges of attacking two brothers in Paceville.
Mr Cilia’s lawyer, Joe Giglio, said in court that Mr Mifsud Grech had been reprimanded and suspended for twice being caught drunk while on duty.
More details in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.