Former Labour Minister Joe Debono Grech has been found not guilty of threatening a police officer.

The case relates to an incident which took place on 6 September 2017. Debono Grech, who is one of the Directors of the Gozo Channel, was boarding one of their vessels when he saw a truck, whose brakes were not functioning, blocking a number of cars.

Debono Grech was insufficiently pleased when he reported the incident at  the Mgarr Police Station located in Ghajnsielem, Gozo, as he was unhappy with the way the complaint was being tackled; and told PC George Scicluna that he would report him to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar.

The case courted significant controversy, not only due to Debono Grech’s political background, but because he had been awarded the country’s highest honour, Gieh ir-Repubblika, the December following the incident.

Debono Grech had also experienced significant backlash after appearing to threaten MP Marlene Farrugia within the House of Parliament during the previous legislature.

The court, which was presided over by Magistrate Joe Mifsud, found that the evidence provided by the constable “does not entail the necessary ingredients” to find Debono Grech guilty as a threat to report a Police Official to his or her superior is not considered a threat as according to law. 

It was also ruled that the case which he wished to report, as one of the Directors of the ferry service, was legitimate. 

“Police officers should give more heed to citizens whenever they approach police officers to request assistance or report abuse,” the magistrate said.