After MaltaToday reported allegations of a violent beating which took place in the St Julian’s station last March, police face fresh brutality allegations, this time involving an 18-year-old woman
Karl Stagno-Navarra
With an investigation still ongoing into the alleged beating of a young man by three police officers in the St Julian’s police station last March, MaltaToday has learnt of yet another case of alleged police manhandling within the same St Julian’s precinct, this time involving an 18-year-old woman.
The victim was allegedly pulled by the hair and dragged into a police car, taken to the St Julian’s police station and slapped in the face for having reportedly “answered back” to an officer who asked her not to walk her dog on the beach in St George’s Bay.
The incident rekindles suspicions of irregular behaviour within the St Julian’s police station, after MaltaToday this week reported the case of Trevor Ciangura, 21 from Rabat, who is still awaiting the conclusions of investigations into his alleged beating in the St Julian’s police station in March.
Ciangura claims to have been brutally beaten by the police, while a Sergeant, identified as PS1492 Joseph Pace, stood by the main door to prevent anybody else from entering the station while two of his subordinates kicked and punched him to the ground.
The youth claims to have always cooperated with the police, given that his brothers are in the police and army corps, and that he was always educated to respect orders.
Ciangura filed an official complaint to the Police Internal Investigations, who initiated an inquiry.
But four months later, no action of any kind has been taken in connection with this incident.
“Months have passed since this incident and I still suffer from the consequences of the violent beating, especially in my back,” Ciangura told MaltaToday, when he was first interviewed by the paper earlier this month.
Replying to questions forwarded by this paper, a police spokesman said that investigations are “still ongoing”, however they are in their final stages.
While the case has reportedly been referred to the Attorney General for advice as to whether any prosecutions will take place, another reply from the police headquarters yesterday insisted that “the force has nothing more to add to its previous statement on the matter.”
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