Justice Minister defends Police Commissioner's actions on unfair dismissal of police officers

The three policemen, Michael Buttigieg, David Gatt and Ivan Portelli, were dismissed from the force almost a decade ago, though no criminal action was ever taken against them. Their unfair dismissal was confirmed by the Court of Appeal two weeks ago.

Carmelo Mifusd Bonnici told The Times: “The ministry understands and supports the decisions taken by the Police Commissioner George Grech, which he deemed to be in public interest in the circumstances that prevailed at the time."

The Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the original judgement declaring that their dismissal was null and void because they had not been informed about the ongoing procedures against the by the Public Service Commission.

The case is further compounded as transcripts of tapped telephone conversations showing the accused policemen’s familiarity with criminals were removed from court records as a warrant was not exhibited.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo, assistant commissioner at the time of the incident, said that the phone calls were recorded during the investigation on a hold-up of Group 4 security company in 2000 involving €2.33 million (Lm1 million).

Buttigieg and former inspectors Gatt and Portelli are now condsidering suing for damages. They are calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Rizzo and a public apology from the former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami.

Dr Fenech Adami has refused to apologise and stands by his actions to suspend the policemen insisting he acted in terms of the office he held at the time.

Although winning the right to return the officers do not want to go back to force, now headed by Rizzo who testified against them.