Two members of the Criminal Investigation Department were to blame for a police blunder which led to the imprisonment of an innocent man, an internal inquiry has established.

The inquiry, published more than 18 months after it was concluded, reaches a markedly different conclusion to a report drawn up by the Police Board – which had shifted the blame for the error on to district inspector Elton Taliana when he had actually charged the correct person – and recommends disciplinary measures against the two individuals.

The blunder took place in August 2013 when 27-year-old Daryl Luke Borg from Birkirkara was accused of theft and sent to prison.

The incident led to a political backlash, with the Opposition calling the Police Board conclusions “a travesty of justice”.

The PN accused the Police Commissioner and the government of trying to hit out at Inspector Taliana for partisan reasons.

According to the internal inquiry conducted by Neville Aquilina, Laurence Cutajar and Martin Sammut, the crucial mistake over this episode was made by two CID inspectors – Joseph Mercieca and Carlos Cordina – who arraigned Mr Borg despite the fact there was insufficient evidence to accuse him over a hold-up at a shop in Birkirkara.

The report also concedes that the police blunder was a result of lack of consultations between the CID and the district police and could have been easily avoided if the superintendents responsible for both sections were informed and discussed the case.“With regard to the accusations issued against Darryl Luke Borg, the board has difficulties to understand why Inspector Mercieca included Inspector Cordina in the arraignment sheet and not Inspector Taliana,” the report says.

Inquiry exonerates accused officer

The board noted that Inspector Taliana was working on the case as he was responsible for the district.

The board said there was no conclusive evidence that Mr Borg had committed the theft. The investigations carried by inspectors Mercieca and Cordina were not solid enough to arraign a person in court, the inquiry concluded.

Citing the Police Act, the board recommended disciplinary measures against inspectors Mercieca and Cordina.

It also recommended that these disciplinary measures should take into consideration the good reputation of the two officers.

The board heard Inspector Taliana confirming he was not aware of the CID’s actions in relation to the other man while conducting investigations leading to the arraignment of the correct robbery suspect  Roderick Grech  who pleaded guilty and was given a suspended sentence.

He said he had taken action as soon as he realised what was happening.

Inspector Taliana had originally been chastised by the Police Board for failing to alert his chain of command about the mistake made by the Criminal Investigations Department.

Inspector Taliana had been previously detailed as security officer with the then Nationalist Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg.

The Opposition had insisted on the publication of the internal police inquiry since then but the government refused to make its finding public until earlier this week.

Former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia had denied there were political motives behind this case.