Police inspector charged with assaulting three brothers

A court presided by Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona today heard how a police inspector - charged with assault of three youths - had argued with his accusing sergeant who faced disciplinary action for having been reported by the latter for drinking on the job.

The detail regarding PS928 came to light during the cross-examination by Assistant Commissioner Ray Zammit, who was investigating Inspector Jeffrey Cilia, who stands charged of assaulting three brothers in Paceville on 22 December.

Cilia has since been suspended from duty.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio, who is appearing for Cilia, revealed that when PS928 Raymond Mifsud Grech had gone to the Intercontinental Hotel to investigate a reported fight, he found Jeffrey Cilia and a friend, the co-accused, identified as Joseph Farrugia.

Brothers Matthew, Omar and Alec Debono claim they were assaulted by Jeffrey Cilia while Farrugia had taken a mobile phone from them when they filmed the incident.

The sergeant had asked Cilia for the phone, who refused to give it until he was threatened by the sergeant to arrest him.

Matthew Debono sustained grievous injuries, while his two brothers incurred slight injuries.

The sergeant filed a report to his superiors, who immediately investigated Cilia who was also said to have spoken abusively to the sergeant.

Cilia was arrested later in the day and charged along with Joseph Farrugia.

The case was investigated by Commissioner of Pollce John Rizzo and the police internal affairs unit.