The Nationalist Party said Wednesday the police commissioner has contradicted Home Affaurs Minister Byron Camilleri regarding a police raid at the wrong address in Swieqi.

Four people living in Swieqi have claimed that heavily armed police officers mistakenly raided their apartment, holding them at gunpoint and restraining them in a violent mix-up. The incident, which occurred last month on Triq is-Swieqi, has been detailed in a judicial protest filed by the residents. They allege that police officers burst into their home without identifying themselves, offering no explanation for the forced entry. 

The Commissioner stated that the address where the raid took place had been provided to the police on the basis of national address data held by the government.

Minister Camilleri, conversely, placed the blame on the Magistrate - even though, as Minister, he should know that the addresses where such raids are carried out are always determined on the basis of information provided to the police by his own government. This was, in fact, confirmed by Commissioner Gafà himself, the PN said.

In light of the Police Commissioner's remarks, the PN is calling on Minister Byron Camilleri to immediately clarify the situation and explain whether, in this case:

(i)          the persons who were meant to be arrested actually reside at that address, but were not present at the time of the raid - leading to the wrongful arrest of individuals who are not suspects in this case; or

(ii)       this was instead the result of confusion within the government's address system, where the four wanted individuals are officially registered at that address but do not actually live there.

In the public interest, it is of vital and urgent importance that the Minister responsible for Home Affairs reassures the Maltese public by providing clear answers to these legitimate questions, the PN said.