A lawyer yesterday claimed the police were attempting a cover-up over an internal investigation that was supposed to have taken place into allegations that officers abused a group of Serbian football fans in 2012.

The claim was made in court by Giannella de Marco, after former police commissioner John Rizzo on the witness stand contradicted the testimony about the probe given by a superintendent under oath.

“When they [the police] try to cover up something, they do more damage to themselves. You should be on this side asking for action to be taken. I am disgusted at your attitude,” Dr de Marco told prosecuting inspector Jurgen Vella.

Mr Rizzo said he had assigned Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo to investigate claims made by her clients, a group of Serbian fans, that they had been beaten up by police during the match.

However, the same superintendent had previously told the court he had nothing to do with the probe and that Mr Rizzo had personally investigated the case.

The Serbian fans claimed they were beaten

The case in court is against a group of eight Serbian, a Greek and Bulgarian football fans who are facing criminal proceedings over a fight that broke out outside the Hibs Stadium in Paola during the Champions League match between Valletta FC and Partizan Belgrade on July 17, 2012.

They are denying violently resisting arrest, disobeying police orders, threatening officers, invading the pitch and being drunk. One of them denied slightly injuring a policeman.

The fans however claimed they were beaten and sustained injuries which a court expert said were compatible with kicks, including in the face, as well as bruising compatible to being hit with a truncheon.

They even said the officers sprayed pepper spray into the police van while they were handcuffed inside.

On the witness stand, Mr Rizzo said that so far as he could remember he had only ordered an investigation into these claims. “We can easily establish this by asking for a police file to be exhibited in court. Or else get (Superintendent Carmelo) Bartolo here.”

But Mr Bartolo had already given evidence and basically said the total opposite: that Mr Rizzo had led the investigation – he himself had nothing to do with it and was unaware of the conclusions.

Dr de Marco questioned whether an investigation had even been carried out, pointing out that the people making the allegations had not even been interviewed.

She demanded to be given access to the police file “if there ever was one”.

But prosecuting officer Inspector Vella said he could not make a commitment to let her see the file as he had to refer the matter to his superiors.

“I personally have no objection but there is an internal procedure that I must respect,” he said. He also reacted angrily to Dr de Marco’s claims, saying her allegations were “unacceptable”. The police, he added, “never received a formal complaint”.

“You must be joking,” the lawyer replied, and they were both stopped by presiding Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, who ordered them to continue their quarrel outside the courtroom.

The magistrate gave the inspector three days to file an official reply to the defence’s request to see the police file.

The incidents were ignited by a “hitch” in the organisation of the match. Despite having purchased tickets, some Serbian fans were not allowed in because the entire seating had been taken up by Valletta supporters.

Eventually, Partizan supporters, who were also refused entry, tried to force their way in after opening a large gate separating the stadium from an abandoned field but the police managed to push them back. The case continues.