Prime Minister Robert Abela has written to the Chief Justice over the “totally unacceptable” delays to the finalisation of the magisterial inquiry looking into Jean Paul Sofia’s death in a construction collapse last year.

20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia was killed after a factory which was being built in the Corradino Industrial Estate collapsed while he was in it on 3 December last year.

So far, nobody has been charged in connection with the death and the government has been resisting calls for the calling of a public inquiry on the basis that the magisterial inquiry into the case is still ongoing.

Renewed pressure was put on Thursday morning when Sofia’s mother – Isabelle – placed a photo of her son on the lawn in front of the Prime Minister’s office at Castille – a photo which was promptly removed.

The Prime Minister’s office however on Thursday afternoon published a letter which Prime Minister Robert Abela wrote to Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti on the case.

“Up to today, the proces-verbal of this case about which there is a magisterial inquiry presided over by magistrate Marseanne Farrugia, has not yet been concluded, and therefore the inquiry has not been closed yeat,” Abela wrote.

“When one considers the sensitivity of the case, this is a totally unacceptable delay, even considering the efficiency that the courts presided over by yourself are consistently showing,” Abela said.

He noted that the inquiring magistrate has at her disposal all the requested resources, including the necessary experts.

Abela said that he was therefore asking for the Chief Justice to “exercise his powers and prerogatives” to ensure that this magisterial inquiry is finalised so that justice can take its course and so that all those responsible can face the consequences for their behaviour. 

Sofia family reiterates call for public inquiry

In a reaction to the letter, the family said that while Sofia’s mother wants justice to take its course, her appeal is for the opening of a public inquiry over and above the magisterial inquiry which is currently ongoing.

“As Isabelle said many times and as has been reported by many newspapers, the scope of a public inquiry is to identify was led to the incident and whether any amendments or new laws can be implemented so that no mother can go through what she is going through,” the family said in its statement.

They continue that a public inquiry should be done for every death at the workplace, and that as a signatory of the European Convention of Human Rights the Maltese state has an obligation to preserve the citizens’ right to life and implement structures to preserve the lives of the same citizens.

They said that these structures can be recommended by the public inquiry which is being requested.

“Jean Paul’s death can be a tool for hope and a shield in favour of citizen’s lives,” they concluded.

PN accuses Prime Minister of attacking magistrate to cover up for 'police incompetence'

In a statement published on Thursday, the PN accused the Prime Minister Robert Abela of “attacking the magistrate in order to cover his tracks and justify the incompetence of the police force.”

Abela wrote to the Chief Justice over the “totally unacceptable” delays to the finalisation of the magisterial inquiry looking into Jean Paul Sofia’s death in a construction collapse last year.

“In the letter sent this morning to the Chief Justice, Abela confirms that he is not interested in revealing the whole truth about the tragic death of the young Jean Paul Sofia,” the PN said.

“Abela is being insensitive when, in the letter he wrote to the Chief Justice, he shows that he is only interested in covering his tracks and justifying the incompetence of the police in the investigations,” they went on.

“The PN would like to remind everyone that the police have the power and all the resources necessary to, independently of the magistrate conducting an inquiry, investigate, arrest, interrogate, and accuse in court those persons who caused the death of the young Jean Paul Sofia.”

“Abela has been refusing since last December to hold a Public Inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia despite the repeated requests from Jean Paul Sofia's mother, as well as from the PN,” the PN said.

“Abela is refusing to hold a public inquiry because he has something to hide,” it concluded.

PL statement

The Labour Party said that the PN's reaction to the Prime Minister's letter to the Chief Justice "confirms that the PN is not interested in true justice, and is only interested in partisan politics."

"The PM knows the strength of a magisterial inquiry and how magisterial inquiries have the resources to conduct their work, including with the assistance of other authorities."

"Yet until today, the PN has refused to join the PM's appeal aimed at ensuring that whoever is responsible face justice as quickly as possible."