Home Affairs Minister Defends ‘Hard-Working Policeman’ After Partner’s Domestic Violence Accusations
A controversial high-ranking police officer, who resigned this week after his partner filed a domestic abuse complaint against him, has been called a “hard-working officer who worked long hours” by the Home Affairs Ministry.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mario Tonna’s letter of resignation was accepted by the Police Commissioner after it was revealed that his partner had filed a report at the Sliema police station on the 28th December.
The report said that Mr Tonna had physically assaulted her during an argument, eventually even headbutting her. It was also reported that this was not the first time that she had been assaulted by Mr Tonna.
However, his partner soon retracted her accusations, leading to the Home Affairs Ministry defending the disgraced ex-assistant commissioner.
Mario Tonna
In a statement, they said that he had been a “hard-working officer who worked his way up through the ranks and worked long hours for the benefit of the police corps and the public”.
The ministry also addressed rumours that Mr Tonna had an alcohol problem, saying that “in the past when there were rumours that the subject might have drinking problems, he had admitted to being under medication.”
They also noted that “all accusations by the third party have been withdrawn.”
While the ministry has defended the former policeman as a hard worker, a government worker who often saw Mr Tonna during work hours told to Lovin Malta that he was the opposite of a hard worker, “he could barely support staying for a court sitting without leaving for a coffee or cigarette.”
The Nationalist Party, amongst others including Labour supporters, has called out the Home Affairs Ministry’s defence of Mr Tonna, saying the Ministry was justifying domestic violence and were insulting all victims of domestic violence.
Prior to his resignation, Mr Tonna was a high ranking official in charge of the police garage, the mechanical transport section, and coordinating traffic.
This is not the first time Mr Tonna had to deal with criminal accusations, having been found guilty of harassing and intimidating Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo, his superior, in 2011.
Though one of the penalties of being found guilty of harassment was being prohibited from ever being promoted, he was subsequently promoted in 2015.
What do you think about the Home Affairs Ministry’s defence of an alleged domestic abuser?
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