A top policeman has denied sharing information about a high-profile case with a union official.
Assistant Police Commissioner Neville Aquilina “strongly rebuts” any suggestion that he shared information concerning an investigation with Philip Fenech, vice president of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, a police spokesman said.
Sandro Chetcuti, a former GRTU official, is charged with grievously injuring the organisation’s director general, Vince Farrugia, when he allegedly assaulted him at his office in Valletta.
Mobile text messages Mr Fenech sent to Mr Farrugia in the aftermath of the assault were exhibited in court last week.
In one text message, Mr Fenech told Mr Farrugia:“I have the (Police) Commissioner on our side.” He also wrote: “The AC told me they are very strong and credible... the police will be helping us.”
Mr Fenech explained under oath that the words “commissioner” and “AC” both referred to Mr Aquilina, whom Mr Fenech spoke to shortly after the alleged assault on Mr Farrugia took place.
Mr Fenech’s text messages and court testimony raised eyebrows due to their implication that top police officers shared investigation details with third parties.
But Mr Aquilina has vehemently denied that interpretation, with a spokesman insisting Mr Aquilina “only told Mr Fenech... that the case is being investigated by the police and, should there be enough evidence for a court case, then proceedings would be taken accordingly”.
A Home Affairs Ministry spokesman reserved comment on Mr Fenech’s testimony, noting that the court case was still ongoing and in the hands of the judiciary.
Police officers suspected of having breached their terms of conduct can be investigated either internally or externally.
The police force’s own internal affairs unit can look into complaints against police officers made either by a member of the public or another officer.
An independent police board, appointed by the President, can also probe police conduct-related complaints and is also free to initiate its own investigations.
The board’s chairman, Judge Franco Depasquale, said he was not familiar with the text messages in question.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it. I know of the ongoing court case but don’t know anything about these SMS exchanges,” Mr Justice Depasquale said when contacted.
He added that the five-member board, which is required to meet once a month but tends to convene more regularly, would be happy to investigate the matter if anybody were to refer it to them.
“We are limited by our resources and God forbid we were to investigate every single complaint made against a police officer, but we investigate all cases that come our way,” Judge Depasquale said.
Mr Chetcuti’s court case is set to continue in November.