Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has sent a letter to Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, asking that the public inquiry looking into the death of Jean Paul Sofia also interview the others who were injured in the building collapse.

Sofia had lost his life when a building collapsed in Corradino last December. On Monday, following months of pressure, the Prime Minister made a U-turn and announced the launch of a public inquiry.

In a letter to Judge Zammit McKeon, who will be leading the public inquiry, Cassola said that there were also five people injured in the collapse.

These were three Albanians aged 53, 24 and 21, a man from Bosnia of 69 years and a Maltese man from St Paul's Bay aged 43. "They were mentioned on the day of the tragedy, and then vanished," Cassola writes.

"Strangely, the police never gave updates about their medical states, which they usually do. According to unconfirmed information, one of them lost vision in one eye whilst another lost a leg. According to unconfirmed information, the five injured were paid an amount of money to remain silent and the foreigners were sent back to their countries to make sure they do not speak out."

Cassola asked the Judge to identify these individuals and for them to be brought back to Malta to testify in the public inquiry. He also asked that an investigation be conducted examining why the police and medical authorities never provided an update on their condition. "Who, if true, decided that everything should remain a mystery? Who, if true, ordered that they are to be paid for their silence? Who, if true, decided that they are to be flown out of Malta?," Cassola asked.