The Ministry for Home Affairs yesterday defended the decision to refer the recent matter of the charge sheet error to the Police Board, after The Times said in its editorial that this did not go far enough and called for a wide-ranging independent inquiry.

The ministry said the board served as an independent institution charged with investigating suspect police actions.

Members are appointed by the President of Malta and its chairman is currently Judge Franco Depasquale. It can summon witnesses under oath and its power “is not dissimilar” to that afforded to an inquiry appointed under the Inquiries Act, the ministry said.

The issue revolves around a mistake made in a charge sheet that led to the acquittal of three policemen and a bouncer over the beating of a French student.

The Times called on the minister to order an inquiry that would also determine how such mistakes can be avoided in the future, as a way of restoring public confidence in law enforcement.

The Ministry said the Constitution prohibited political authorities from interfering in or being responsible for matters related to the prosecution of the accused.