The partner of Briton Paul Allen Sneddon, who was released on bail on Friday after being charged for assaulting two police officers in St Paul’s Bay last Sunday during the Summer Carnival event, has gone on record claiming that Mr Sneddon was beaten and strangled by police officers while in their custody.

Polish born Agnes Koba, who approached this newsroom soon after Mr Sneddon was remanded in custody earlier this week, insisted: “My partner was abused by the police; he was beaten, strangled and kicked. His face was covered in blood. He went to ask the police for help after being threatened by our drunken neighbour, who had even beaten him.

“We did not want to do anything ourselves and went straight to the police. I waited for a call from the police for five hours but they did not contact me so I did not know if he (her partner) was alive or dead.”

During this week’s court hearing, Mr Sneddon alleged that he had been beaten by the police, but the police officers giving testimony said that the accused had a bad temper and had been violent toward them.

Ms Koba adds, “They (the police) breached all human rights. I was following him (her partner) all day. They were taking him from one police station to another and I was told that if I wanted carry out any legal procedures, I must contact the President of Malta.”

When asked about these claims by this newspaper this week, the police said, “Regarding the alleged beating while in police custody, please note that since there are ongoing court proceedings, it is not prudent to comment at this stage.”

On Monday, a magistrate ordered that Mr Sneddon be remanded in custody for fear that he might abscond from the island, a decision that was revoked on Friday.

Mr Sneddon, 33, who resides in St Paul’s Bay, stands accused of slightly injuring Police Inspector Maurice Curmi and Police Sergeant Ivan Mifsud, violently resisting arrest, damaging their uniforms and a police vehicle, disobeying orders, breaching the peace and refusing to give his correct particulars in Pioneer Road, St Paul’s Bay late last Sunday.

Prior to the comments given by Ms Koba to this newspaper, prosecuting Inspector Godwin Scerri told the court that Mr Sneddon has a bad temper and is a danger to himself and society and therefore should be refused bail,; the request was upheld by the court.

On the other hand, Mr Sneddon’s legal aid, Dr Christopher Chircop presented a medical certificate issued by the Mosta Health Centre which showed that Mr Sneddon had, in fact, suffered injuries.

Dr Chircop counter argued that it was his client who was beaten up and not what was being portrayed.

In a bid to show that Mr Sneddon’s injuries had nothing to do with the incident which ensued between the police and the accused, Inspector Scerri said that he believed Mr Sneddon suffered the injuries during a separate incident earlier in the day.

“It was us (the police) who took Mr Sneddon to the health clinic to be reviewed,” Inspector Scerri said, implying that the police had nothing to hide.

During the court sitting, Inspector Scerri suggested that Mr Sneddon should be reviewed by a psychologist.

This prompted Mr Sneddon to ask the inspector if he was implying that he was insane. The inspector denied saying that Mr Sneddon was insane simply because he had recommended that Mr Sneddon be seen by a psychologist due to his bad temper.

 

Drama ensues at start of sitting

Drama ensued at the start of the sitting after the presiding magistrate asked Mr Sneddon why he was not assisted by a lawyer. Mr Sneddon said that he was asked to choose a lawyer at random from the Yellow Pages.

“I refused to choose a lawyer randomly from the Yellow Pages, as I was instructed to do by the police while at the Floriana depot,” he told the court.

The police, when asked, clarified this point: “With regard to the lawyer selection issue, you may wish to note that Mr Sneddon was given the right to consult a lawyer; however he insisted that the Custody Officer suggest a trustworthy lawyer. This is something which goes contrary to the law (Art. 355 AT (8) of The Criminal Code).

“In order to be in line with the law, and since Mr Sneddon insisted that a trustworthy lawyer be indicated to him, the custody officer refrained from indicating a lawyer. Mr Sneddon was provided with a list of lawyers as found in the Yellow Pages in order to choose from there.

“Mr Sneddon finally decided that he did not want to consult with any lawyer since he did not want to be overcharged (in monetary terms).

Mr Sneddon told the court that he is being represented by his partner, Ms Koba, instead. A few seconds later Ms Koba stood up and spoke without the permission of the magistrate. This led the magistrate to order Ms Koba out of the court room for “disrespecting the court”.

It results that Ms Koba is a secretary at a foreign legal firm.

Mr Sneddon, who was visibly emotional during the sitting, said that he was to inform the British High Commission in Malta to bring over a lawyer from the UK who he trusted.

“I do not know how much the services of a lawyer will cost here in Malta; I only earn €700 a month,” he argued. The inspector said that the embassy had been informed.

On hearing this, the magistrate insisted that a legal aid be brought to the courts there and then to defend Mr Sneddon.

In an attempt to clarify what the separate incident was all about before the issue with the police ensued, Ms Koba told this newsroom that Mr Sneddon went to report their “drunk” neighbour to the police for “having attacked us”. On seeing a policeman directing the traffic in St Paul’s Bay, her partner pulled over and requested assistance. The police officer advised him to go down to the station to file an official report.

The prosecuting inspector meanwhile told the court that when the accused was told by the officer directing the traffic he should file a report at the police station, Mr Sneddon created mayhem, going as far as attacking the police officers soon after they asked for his particulars. The particulars he gave to the police turned out to be false and Mr Sneddon was told he was to be detained until his details are verified.

One of the officers tried restraining him while a constable in the vicinity who spotted the commotion called for backup.

He said that Mr Sneddon also insulted one of the officers. He explained that the police officers stationed at the summer carnival event were overwhelmed with work and this is why they instructed Mr Sneddon to go to the station to file an official report.