Paul Grech, who is believed to be the victim of a mysterious murder, which the police are currently investigating following the discovery of his body wedged in a crevice off the cliffs at l-Ahrax in Mellieha last Friday, had strong Russian connections, The Malta Independent on Sunday has learnt.
Mr Grech had been missing since 10 October.
The Police said yesterday that an initial autopsy was inconclusive and further investigations are being carried out, and that the body is yet to be identified.
Besides the fact that the police are holding a Russian man to help in their investigations, sources who knew Mr Grech told this newspaper that he travelled extensively to Russia, hosted by friends whom he described as “business partners”.
People who spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday described Mr Grech as a “very active person, always on the go”. He drove a water bowser and delivered water to hotels, companies and homes for private pools and cisterns. Those who knew him pointed out that irrespective of his rough looks he had a gentle, effeminate and pleasant disposition.
When speaking of his frequent trips to Russia with his friends and acquaintances, the victim described hunting sprees in Russian forests for wild boar and brown bear.
Those who knew the victim told this newspaper that he boasted of personally knowing Russia’s Premier Vladimir Putin and that he had met him thanks to his Russian partners. “He used to describe Putin as a strong leader and that Europe should quickly engage Russia with the EU.”
From what our newsroom managed to ascertain, it appears that Mr Grech was trying to bring Russian investment to Malta and was extremely irked when the previous administration stopped the Foreign Residence Scheme, which had attracted millions of euros to the Maltese economy. Sources also say that at the time that the scheme was halted in 2009, Mr Grech was busy trying to fix appointments with the Office of the Prime Minister.
While this newspaper is informed that a murder investigation has been launched, it is not yet clear what possible motives the police are focusing on – whether the crime was fuelled by a business or personal feud.
One of the questions raised by investigators is that concerning the victim’s car, an ageing Isuzu Gemini that has been on the road for almost 20 years. Those who spoke to this newspaper claim that although Mr Grech wasn’t exactly wealthy, neither was he “a worker on a payroll”.
Sources close to police headquarters who spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday said that even though it is early days it is not excluded that a team of investigators would need to travel as far as Russia to find out more about the ‘Russian connection’.