An inquiry has been launched into the death of the 92-year old man who was allegedly slapped by a nursing aide at St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly last July.

The man died four days ago at the home for the elderly where he still resided. A post-mortem examination has been conducted to establish the cause of his death as the police continue with their investigations.

The Parliamentary Secretariat for Active Ageing said foul play was being excluded and that the autopsy was being held as “part of normal procedures”.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella was informed about the man’s death.

When contacted, the police would not comment at this stage.

The Times of Malta is informed that the man he was taken away from the Luqa home for the elderly in a hearse escorted by the police.

A 42-year-old nursing aide – George Michael Spiteri of Fgura – was last August charged with slightly injuring the elderly man after allegedly slapping him in the face.

Mr Spiteri, who has been working as a nursing aide since 1989, was placed on forced leave pending the outcome of the investigation after a maid reported that he had slapped the resident. He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000. The case continues.

In view of claims made after the alleged incident, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly, Justyne Caruana, had said the government wanted to convey the message that it was adopting a zero-tolerance policy on elderly abuse.