Former Police Commissioner John Rizzo said he would have taken drastic action against Police Sergeant Ramon Mifsud after comments made following the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Following Monday’s brutal murder, Mifsud uploaded a Facebook status stating the following; “Had wara had tasal ta kulhadd, demel!!!!!!Feeling happy J” (Everyone gets what they deserve, cow dung).

This brought outright condemnation and people expressed anger on social media, calling upon the minister responsible and the police chief to take action against the sergeant.

“Personally, I never permitted hate speech or political speech on Facebook or any other type of social media. If I was there, I would have taken immediate drastic action against him. I only have the information that I have read, but in such a clear-cut case, I would have taken action.”

Rizzo added: “I don’t think it is something you would expect from a police officer, and unfortunately this will reflect badly on the entire corps, that is not right, because there are many good police officers.”

Rizzo was speaking to The Malta Independent as a police sergeant who caused a storm after he uploaded a Facebook post celebrating the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was suspended from the force.

Contacted by The Malta Independent, Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar said that an internal investigation had been launched on the case and that he would wait for the result. 

 

Mifsud was suspended from duty later on in the day. He will appear in front of the Public Service Commission, who will make a final decision.

An online petition by activist group 'Il-Kenniesa tal-Kabinett' going around on Facebook with the title 'Get Ramon Mifsud off the police force and out of Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder case' has already collected over 1000 signatures.

"There is no place for people like this in the world, let alone, a place and responsibility to be protecting the Maltese people," the petition reads.

“"The impartiality and independence of the police force is the crux of an independent democratic state... We demand that Ramon Mifsud is removed from the investigation and consequently the police force so as to ensure a just and independent investigation of case can hope to be conducted."

It is addressed to Police Commissioner Cutajar and Home Affairs and Security Minister Michael Farrugia.