Jean Paul Sofia Public Inquiry First Sitting Kicks Off In Valletta
The first sitting of the long-awaited Public Inquiry into the involuntary homicide of 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia and the circumstances surrounded his death kicks off this morning.
In a courtroom in Valletta, the inquiring board set off on what could be a deep-dive into the serious and persistent issues plaguing the deadly local construction industry.
The inquiring board – made up of Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, Charles Deguara And architect Mario Cassar – will aim to conclude the inquiry within five months time (the recently concluded Magisterial Inquiry infamously went over its deadline repeatedly).
The seven key terms of reference that will guide the Public Inquiry are as follows:
- Whether the government giving AllPlus Ltd – the company run by developers Matthew Schembri and Kurt Buhagiar – the Kordin site that collapsed onto Jean Paul Sofia was done legally;
- Whether there is any connection between how this allocation was given, and the subsequent collapse;
- Whether the state had proper regulations in place that were being enforced regularly, alongside all administrative obligations, policies and processes that could prevent a fatality;
- Whether adequate prevention measures for the construction sector are seriously integrated in all processes;
- Whether development, planning and construction processes have the appropriate powers to prevent deaths from happening on sites;
- Whether any state entity failed to take appropriate action within their judicial powers that was expected of them in the name of good governance;
- To move forward with both regulatory and administrative recommendations by the Board in the aim of strengthening security on construction sites
Though it is a public inquiry, the Board has the power to keep certain parts secret if they deem it necessary for various reasons; in this case, the public will be shown which parts have been redacted.
However, the Sofia family will be allowed to have full access to the inquiry, which will be undertaken within a courtroom in Valletta.
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