Arrests Deemed Lawful For Two Of Those In Court For Jean Paul Sofia Case
Edited at 7:37pm
Two of the people arrested yesterday in connection to the death of Jean Paul Sofia – Matthew Schembri and Kurt Buhagiar – have lost their bid to have that arrest declared invalid.
The court dismissed the application to have the arrests declared invalid after their lawyers – Franco Debono, Arthur Azzopardi and Jacob Magri – claimed not to have been provided with full evidence that led to the arrests.
Magistrate Ian Farrugia dismissed their appeal after Deputy Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia argued that the arrests were valid because they were based on the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry – and said that search and arrest warrants were obtained in time for the arrests.
Schembri and Buhagiar had leased the Kordin Industrial Estate lands from the government, before the building collapsed during construction, killing 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia.
Despite having occurred a long time ago, the case has sparked national uproar, and continues to provoke strong reactions which – combined with a plethora of contributing factors – could be threatening the PLs hold on power if the party doesn’t seek to radically alter the nation’s economic and social status quo.
Though the saga of Jean Paul Sofia is a socio-political flashpoint, it is also a deeply tragic, human story with personal implications in the lives of many of Malta’s residents.
The case against those five arrested – including these two who have had their appeal rejected – is only just beginning, and the results are yet to be seen.
Many were encouraged, after so long, to see that it is possible for public pressure to mount to such an extent that Robert Abela’s government will respond to criticism.
The outcome of this case will not be enough to right the systemic wrongs which may have contributed to Sofia’s demise – but could go some way towards providing those affected with a semblance of closure.
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