Updated | Home Affairs’ chief denies contacting main witness in police board inquiry

The Chief of Staff at the ministry for home affairs, Silvio Scerri, has categorically denied ever approaching Darryl Luke Borg, falsely accused with a Birkirkara hold-up, and his mother to appear before the Police Board investigating the matter.

Scerri has also denied knowing who convicted criminal Charles Attard iz-Zambi is.

Scerri's denials follow a press conference called by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi at 4:30pm during which he alleged that iz-Zambi was used by Scerri as a go-between with Borg and his mother.

Attard, today a free man, was convicted of attempting to murder Richard Cachia Caruana, a chief PN strategist and former personal assistant to former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in 1994.

Azzopardi said he had nothing against persons who had paid for their crimes and was all for their reintegration in society, "however, persons in important administrative positions should have better judgement."

The Opposition spokesperson for home affairs added that Attard was also present for a meeting which Silvio Scerri had with Darryl Luke Borg on Tuesday. During this  meeting, also attended by Borg's mother, the home affair minister's chief of staff asked Borg whether he would be prepared to give testimony to the Police Board which was investigating the police's blunder.

Azzopardi pointed out that at no point was Borg formally invited to appear in front of the board in writing and the invitation was only made verbally.

The MP described Scerri's involvement as "shocking" and called on the Prime Minister to take action.

"It is shocking for a chief of staff to interfere in the Police Board's investigations and informing witnesses of their appearance himself. Who will shoulder the responsibility of this abuse of power?" the MP asked.

Asked whether anyone should resign over the case, Azzopardi said that he was only acting in the same way as the Labour Party did when it was in Opposition, which the MP said had set high expectations.  

In an official reaction, the government accused Azzopardi of prejudicing the independent investigation by "this irresponsible statement".

Corroborating Scerri's version of events, the government said it had been the victim who approached the ministry.

"During the meeting the victim recounted a number of new facts and he was urged to recount this information to the independent inquiry," the government said.

It added it had full trust in the work being carried out by the Police Board.

"One hopes that the inquiry's conclusions will shed more light on the case, which would also explain Dr Azzopardi's intent behind today's statement."

Borg was wrongly accused of committing a store hold-up and earlier this week filed a constitutional application for compensation, claiming breach of human rights.

A magistrate had ordered that Borg, 27, who was accused of carrying out a hold-up on a Birkirkara store, be kept under arrest at the Mount Carmel forensic unit where he was undergoing a treatment order.

Two days later his lawyers were informed on 9 August that another man, Roderick Grech, had admitted to the hold-up. Borg was freed that same day, but his lawyers also realised that their client had not been detained at Mount Carmel but at the Corradino Correctional Facility.

On Wednesday, Borg gave his testimony to the Police Board at the home affairs ministry, where an inquiry into his wrongful arrest is being carried out.

A government source said that it was on the ministry's chief of staff, Silvio Scerri's own initiative that Borg has his say before the board.

Borg was accompanied by his mother to the police board inquiry, which is being led by emeritus judge Franco Depasquale.