Testimonies relating to the two Libyan nationals who hijacked an internal Afriqiyah Airways plane and diverted it to in Malta are expected to appear in court on Wednesday. The hijackers are charged with committing acts of terrorism and terrorist activity.
The compilation of evidence will help shed some light on what exactly happened on 23 December as details are still unclear and the story is still shrouded in speculation.
Testimony related to the charges faced by Ali Ahmed Saleh and Moussa Shaha Ali Soko, will be heard before Magistrate Anthony Vella.
The two hijackers, both in their twenties, were arraigned in court on Christmas day, lunchtime, escorted by soldiers, both wearing bullet-proof vests. No request for bail was made. Lawyers Patrick Valentino and Mark Mifsud are defending the accused.
The Afriqiyah Airplane is still in Malta under guard. The company has offered its full cooperation to the Maltese authorities.
The two could be sent to prison for life if they are found guilty of hijacking an aircraft.
They also face other charges including possession of imitation weapons, using violence against a person on board the flight, holding people against their will and making threats of violence.
The two Libyans hijacked an Airbus A320 which left Sabha to Tripoli. They surrendered to the Maltese authorities two hours after the aircraft landed in Malta, releasing all other 109 passengers and six crew. Using what later turned out to be replica pistols and a hand grenade, the two had threatened to blow up the plane.
The passengers and crew were flown back to Libya on Christmas Eve.
Photo: Stephen Busuttil