The family of a Dutchman who was found dead on the rocks in St George’s Bay last Sunday insist the man died after unknown persons drugged him and robbed him of his belongings.

22-year-old Justin Plette was found dead, fully clothed and lying in the foetal position in the area known as Cresta Quay. He was found near premises belonging to an English Language school and a diving club but he was not a student and had nothing to do with this place, which was closed at the time. The area is, however, easily accessible from the nearby rocks by means of a broken fence. 

His father Erik, his mother Margit and his younger siblings, Anne-Maryn and Julian, took part in a remembrance ceremony this evening at the place where Justin’s body was found. Several of his friends were in attendance and laid flowers and lit candles at the site. 

Mr Plette explained that Justin had been living in Malta for the past eight months and worked with an online gaming company. He had many friends, which was a testament to his character, he said.

On Friday he went out with his friends like he usually did but he disappeared at around 1am. “He was sitting outside a well-known club, waiting for his friends to come out from the toilets but when they came for him he had disappeared. We can hardly believe what happened”, Mr Plette said.

When the police found Justin’s lifeless body later on during the night, his wallet and phone had gone missing. “Our son also had scratch marks on his hands and bruising on his face. I believe he was drugged and dragged to this area. He had had some drinks but he was not drunk and he was not on drugs.”

Mr Plette said the same exact thing happened to a Spanish student the night before, but the young man was lucky as he woke up when the drugs wore off. His son did not. The police are now examining CCTV footage from around Paceville to try and understand what happened exactly on the night. The investigation is being led by Inspector Carol Fabri. “He could not have come down here on his own. He did not know this area. The question is why and how he ended up here.”

Mr Plette said Justin was well-liked and had many friends. “He had plans of a bright future in Malta. Unfortunately that will not happen. We get strength from knowing how many friends he had.”

Justin’s body will now be taken to Holland for burial, his father explained. “His life was short, but not for nothing.”

Justin’s mother, Margit, explained that the information given to the press came from people who had spoken to the police about the incident. She also said that the Spanish tourist who was drugged the night before had had recollections the following morning and went to the diving club to ask if anyone had found his wallet and phone. “He told them that he had been drugged and dragged to this place because he had no control over his body.”

Mrs Plette said her son died of heart failure caused by the drugs he was given but the family has not yet been given access to the autopsy report. The family will also commission independent blood tests once the body is taken to Holland.

“We last spoke to him on Friday, before he went out. We could not believe what we were hearing when the police knocked on our door in the middle of the night to tell us the news.”

Mrs Plette said this incident should serve as a warning to other young people because what has already happened to her son and another young man could very well happen again.