The internal police investigation into the alleged beating of two handcuffed immigrants by officers was stalled as virtually all of the force's resources were funnelled into the transport strike.

"Everyone, even drug squad policemen have been sent to the streets," a source close to the investigation told The Times.

The probe, launched two weeks ago after The Times reported several eyewitnesses saying they had seen police officers beat two handcuffed migrants in separate incidents in Paceville, was said to be in its last phases.

The same source had said the investigation was likely to be concluded last week because all the main witnesses had been interviewed. But it was not and this week the probe came to a complete standstill.

The police were asked for an official update but no information was forthcoming at the time of writing.

The alleged beatings took place between midnight and 3.30 a.m. on June 28. Both the immigrants, Sudanese Suleiman Abubaker and Kaba Konate from the Ivory Coast, were charged a day later with assaulting the police. Both pleaded guilty to the charges and were given suspended sentences.

However, in an interview with The Times last week, Mr Abubaker denied assaulting the officers, adding he was not aware that he was making a guilty plea.

"How could I have beaten the police? I had my hands and even my feet tied at one point," Mr Abubaker insisted. "I don't know (what happened exactly in court) really. This was the first time for me in court. I've never been in court, not even back in my country. I just wanted this thing over and done with," he said in fluent Maltese, when asked why he had filed a guilty plea even if he insists that he had not assaulted anyone.

The eyewitnesses, including Rebecca Filletti who was arrested on the night of the incident after questioning the police's behaviour, said they had seen Mr Abubaker and Mr Konate being brutally beaten by the police for no reason.

In the case of Mr Konate, eyewitnesses said the migrant had resisted arrest but had not been violent in any way.

Other eyewitnesses said none of them saw Mr Abubaker behave violently, pointing out that when they arrived on the scene the police were already there. Ms Filletti said: "The man did not put up a fight. He merely lay on the ground crying and screaming for them to stop, saying he had done nothing wrong".