Roger Muscat, the Maltese national declared missing around Libya earlier today, has phoned home and told his brother, Jimmy, that he is still at sea however is safe and sound.

Speaking with The Malta Independent, Jimmy Muscat said that the authorities have been informed of Roger’s recent communication.

Roger Muscat, a 49-year-old Burmarrad resident was reported missing in Libya, a day prior to his birthday.

Today, government said that on Sunday, Roger’s brother Jimmy, declared him missing.

Speaking earlier with the Malta Independent, Roger’s brother, Jimmy Muscat, had emphasised that this might have been a case of Roger being out of communication and not abduction, adding that they did not want to jump to conclusions. This, in fact, turned out to be the situation.

He said that Roger, who is originally from Bugibba, left two weeks ago, 21 July, to work aboard a ship and the family had not heard from him since his departure until this evening's telephone call.

Prior to his departure, Jimmy had asked his brother why he was going to Libya due to the country’s current instability and in response, Roger said that he would not be heading on to the ground where the problems are as he would remain on the ship where he was working.

Roger was supposed to be on trial with the crew for a week, however two weeks have passed, his brother had explained, adding that Roger’s Facebook has remained untouched since he left and they could not get through by phone.

Speaking earlier during a news conference at Castille, Mario Cutajar who is heading the crisis centre within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, had said that Roger Muscat had stopped making contact on 23 July.

Mr Cutajar confirmed that Roger had gone to Libya on a work trial but it is unclear what company he was working for. He left Malta on 21 July.

No Libyan rebel faction had declared that he was kidnapped. His brother had made the report to the Malta Police when Muscat stopped making contact with the family.

Previously, he had worked for Arriva in Malta. Mr Cutajar said that the family has no idea how Muscat reached Libya however investigations made up to now show that he did not travel by plane. Government suspects he travelled by sea. Mr Cutajar added that government only got to know about the case on Sunday; however the man has been missing for two weeks.

Through investigations, it resulted that the final mobile signal was said to have come from Libyan territory, however government was not able to pinpoint its coordinates. 

In a statement the government said he travelled during a time when Maltese nationals were advised not to do so.

The news of Mr Muscat going missing came after former Captain Martin Galea, who was abducted by Libyan rebels on 17 July, was released and returned to Malta unharmed on Monday 28 July. He gave an exclusive interview to The Malta Independent and recounted his harrowing ordeal. He spent 11 days in captivity and was kidnapped whilst driving through a road block in Libya.

PN calls on government to evacuate all Maltese in Libya

The PN has expressed serious thought on this news, emphasising its solidarity with Roger Muscat’s family.

The PN has appealed to government to do all it can in order to bring Mr Muscat back to Malta as soon as possible. The Opposition re-emphasised its insistence for government to see all Maltese citizens in Libya evacuated and returned to Malta.