Three men were arraigned in court this morning charged with the involuntary homicide of an 18-year-old construction worker who fell to his death.

Syrian national Kasim Ibrahim had been plastering a third storey wall at the Vincenzo Borg Brared Secondary School in Ta’ Paris on August 1, 2014, when he fell after one of the ropes suspending a thick plank of wood snapped. He died in hospital soon after.

Christopher Schembri, the 31-year-old director of World Plastering Limited, subcontractor Ahmed Ali, 33, and Fahed Ajjan, 28, stand charged with 15 counts of criminal negligence and failure to ensure the adequate health and safety evaluations.

They also stand charged with failing to impart to their employees the necessary information concerning the health and safety risks, failing to identify all necessary precautions, failing to provide training, failing to provide adequate hardboard planks, structures and equipment.

They were also charged with failing to ensure that the scaffolding was well-built and well-planned, failing to take the necessary steps to prevent falls from heights, not installing the necessary equipment which would prevent fire and electrocution and not providing quick access to first aid.

Inspector Sandra Zammit is prosecution while lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Amadeus Cachia are appearing for the accused.
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit is presiding over the case.