Migrants jailed following last year’s riot

A number of migrants were jailed for partaking in a riot at the Safi Detention Centre last year and for threatening members of the Armed Forces of Malta and Detention Services.

They admitted on Monday in front of Magistrate Aaron Bugeja to disobeying orders, slightly injuring a number of policemen and throwing stones, metal and rocks at the building.

The incident happened in September last year, in what proved to be a failed bid to escape detention. 29 migrants had dislodged a number of stone slabs when a detention service officer raised the alarm and called for assistance.

They were brought under control within a few minutes by the detention officers with the intervention of members of the police force from Zurrieq station and the Rapid Intervention Unit.

The court said it understands the migrants’ frustration at finding themselves locked up after a voyage that was meant give them hope. However, one could not ignore the fact that these violent episodes were becoming more frequent, at bigger risk to public order and to the detriment of people who worked at the centre.

The court also took into consideration that public property was damaged and said that the law was there to be obeyed by everyone. No one was above it and such violent outbursts were unacceptable in a civil society.

Five of the migrants, who at the time of the incident were under age, were jailed for 13 months. A sixth minor, a relapser, was jailed for 15 months. 21 individuals were jailed for 20 months and one, a relapser, was jailed for 22 months. One individual was acquitted.

They were also fined the sum of €1,182