The findings of an inquiry into a blunder that last year led police to charge the wrong man have not been published. Police inspector Elton Taliana, who had arraigned the right man, was chastised by the Police Board for failing to alert his chain of command about a mistake made by the Criminal Investigations Department.

The case involved Darryl Luke Borg, 27, who was remanded in custody after being charged with holding up a Birkirkara confectionery.

Two days later the mistake came to light when Inspector Taliana arraigned Roderick Grech over the incident, who later pleaded guilty and was given a suspended sentence.

In the wake of the embarrassing incident, ex-police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit ordered an internal inquiry and instructed the board to present its report two weeks later.

On September 3, last year, Times of Malta had quoted him saying the findings would be made public to put people’s mind at rest.

Sources said the inquiry had been concluded on time, but its findings were never disclosed. Last Thursday, this newspaper sent questions to the Home Affairs Ministry, but no replies were received.

The ministry also failed to reply when asked if a separate inquiry into Mr Zammit’s decision to drop charges against a man who allegedly assaulted four police officers would be published.

The probe was ordered in June and the report handed to the Home Affairs Ministry in July. A spokeswoman had said the findings would be published. However, Minister Manuel Mallia last month said he had not had time to look into it, so was unable to decide about its publication.