A police officer who has been working as a lawyer since reporting sick from the force last February is now defending former colleagues who have been summoned to appear before an internal police disciplinary board.

When contacted, a police spokesman confirmed that sergeant major Alfred Abela is on unpaid sick leave and is representing police officers at the tribunal.

“In disciplinary proceedings, any accused police officer has the right to be defended by any other person of his choice, including another police officer,” the spokesman said.

The police internal board is chaired by Assistant Commissioner Carmelo Magri, who is responsible for administration and human resources. His job also includes checking sick leave abuses by members of the force. 

However, it is not known whether the police have initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr Abela himself. Two weeks ago, this newspaper revealed that Mr Abela, who had been promoted to sergeant major last December after graduating as a lawyer a month earlier, went out on sick leave and applied to be boarded out from the corps.

However, Mr Abela immediately started work as a lawyer at his office in Mosta before the boarding-out process was concluded. If successful, he will be entitled to compensation.

The police did not explain how it was possible for a member of the force to be on long-term sick leave while working in another profession.

Mr Abela is the son of former Assistant Commissioner Alfred Abela who until a few weeks ago was the head of security at the Labour Party headquarters in Ħamrun.

Following Labour’s return to power, Alfred Abela Snr was appointed chairman of the Police Academy Board.