The heirs of the young policeman who drowned in Cirkewwa last December are demanding compensation and criminal action to be taken against those responsible.

Kurt Gauci, 21, from Victoria, drowned in his dark green Hyundai Accent at around 5.45 a.m. on December 2 as he drove on the wrong quay to board the Gozo Channel ferry.

His family filed a judicial letter in court against the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Gozo Minister, Interior Minister, Justice Minister, Transport Minister, Finance Minister, the Police Commissioner, the chairman of Gozo Channel, the mayor and councillors of the Mellieħa local council, the captain of the MV Ta' Pinu which was operating at the time of the incident, all police officers at the Mellieħa police station, the Transport Malta chairman and board members, the Customs Comptroller as well as Polidano Group and Terracore Limited which are working on the Ċirkewwa terminal project.

They claimed these authorities were responsible for the incident because of negligence and lack of observance of the basic safety rules.

It was "deplorable", they said, that none of the authorities had approached the family to express their "official sympathy" or offer compensation.

"We reiterate that there was no formal investigation of this incident which could have listed a number of shortcomings which could have avoided this tragic death had they been in place."

The family called on the authorities to take criminal action against whoever was responsible for these shortcomings as well as an on-site visit to identify these shortcomings. They said the compensation had to include the value of the car which had to be scrapped.

They warned of further action if a "reasonable offer" was not made by way of compensation.

Lawyers Emy Bezzina and Maxilene Pace signed the letter.