‘Minister Should Now Resign’: Maltese Ambulance Company Owner Speaks Out After Prison Boss’ Gun Conviction
Following the shocking conviction of Malta’s former prison director for threatening a private ambulance driver with a gun, the man in charge of the ambulance company has called for the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri.
“Robert Brincau should have been suspended while he was facing criminal charges,” Charlton Caruana told Lovin Malta. “If a medical professional is accused of malpractice, they have to get suspended while the case is ongoing.”
“However, Brincau pointed a gun at an ambulance driver and wasn’t suspended as prison director. I view this as a joke to public sector employees and a case of well-connected people receiving special treatment.”
Caruana runs Alpha Medical Services, which in July 2022 won a public call by the Malta Tourism Authority to provide emergency ambulance services at beaches during peak summer hours.
With two Alpha ambulances stationed at Għadira and Marsaskala, each with its own driver and nurse, the MTA intended to reduce the ambulance response time in the event of a medical emergency at a beach in the north and south of Malta.
However, this deal put Alpha in conflict with Red Cross Malta, one of Malta’s leading first aid and rescue NGOs, which had since 2018 been entrusted by direct order to provide lifeguard services at beaches, including Għadira.
While the plan was for Alpha to handle emergencies and Red Cross to handle more minor incidents, there was clearly an element of confusion over where the responsibility of each started and ended.
Issues had already been bubbling up between Alpha and Red Cross, with Caruana stating he had raised questions about Red Cross’ direct order considering that some of its lifeguards weren’t even properly trained.
Footage taken of Robert Brincau during the Għadira altercation
Things came to a head in August 2022, when Alpha received a phone call from an Għadira kiosk owner to deal with a patient who had suffered chest pains after taking drugs. According to Fenech’s court testimony, this person had already received first-aid assistance from Red Cross before Alpha arrived on the scene.
Caruana said Alpha decided to take the man to Mater Dei following an on-site assessment by the nurse and confirmation by the hosptital that no ambulance was already on its way.
When Alpha returned to Għadira and their nurse started treating a woman who was stung by a hornet, the ambulance driver – Liam Doublet – was confronted by Brincau and Fenech.
According to Doublet’s testimony, Brincau warned him not to “mess with us”, (Ma tar-Red Cross ma tiċċajtawx) and head-butted him. He said he reacted by punching Brincau in the face, after which the prison director whipped out a Glock pistol and pointed it at his head.
Photo: Alpha Medical
Brincau was today handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, after a court found him guilty of threatening a man with a gun. He promptly resigned as prison director and was replaced by Christopher Siegersma, who previously occupied the role of Commissioner for the Welfare and Development of Prisoners.
However, questions are now being asked of Byron Camilleri over his failure to suspend Brincau as soon as he was prosecuted.
PN MP and home affairs spokesperson Joe Giglio warned that Camilleri’s decision to keep Brincau in charge helped foster a consequence-free culture, promote impunity and increase national security risks.
Cover photo: Left: An Alpha Medical ambulance stationed at Għadira Bay, Right: Alpha Medical owner Charlton Caruana (Photos: Alpha Medical), Inset photos: Left: Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, Right: Former prison director Robert Brincau
Do you think Minister Byron Camilleri should resign?
READ NEXT: 'He Has No Other Option': MP Joe Giglio Calls For Resignation Of Minister Byron Camilleri
