The police are focusing on personal issues as they continue their investigation into the murder of a businessman in Swieqi on Monday.
The Russian partner of the businessman, David Abela, 51, who was found murdered inside his Swieqi home on Monday, has been extensively questioned by the police, sources told The Malta Independent.
This evening, the police also found the victim's car, a BMW which was abandoned near the reverse osmosis plant in Pembroke. Net News reported that the car was found at 7.15pm.
The woman, Irina Aleksandrovna Micallef (in photo above with David Abela), reported the grisly discovery at around 5:15pm. It is believed that she found her partner with his hands and feet tied to the bed. The man was naked and had duct tape on his mouth. He had been stabbed multiple times. The police believe that the man was killed at around 5am on the same day.
The woman, who is the mother of one of Mr Abela’s children, flew in from abroad early in the afternoon but only went to her Swieqi home after 5pm. This newspaper is also informed that Mr Abela had recently filed a police report after a massive row he had with the woman. Sources said their relationship had deteriorated over the past months.
Sources close to the investigation said the woman, at first, had failed to tell investigators that she spoke Maltese and had also changed her version at least once. The sources also pointed out that the woman showed no emotion as she was spoken to at the scene and later escorted to the police HQ for interrogation.
The information obtained by this newspaper tallies with other news reports, one of which says that investigators did not find any signs of forced entry at the Swieqi villa. Other reports say that there is no apparent link between the murder and Mr Abela’s business interests and that investigators are probing into Mr Abela’s private life.
Mr Abela is the owner of 21st Century Travel and 21st Century Limousines. The father of four is also a director in Aviaserve, an airport ground handling company.
An autopsy was performed this morning.