Published 11:30 IST, September 22nd 2019
Malta: Murdered journalist's family question inquiry board composition
The family of the Maltese journalist murdered on October 16, 2017 protests over the board that has been set up by the PM for an independent public inquiry.
Family of murdered Maltese journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia have protested over the board that has been set up by the Prime Minister for an independent public inquiry. Daphne Caruana Galizia, an anti-corruption journalist was killed by a car bomb outside her home on October 16, 2017. A board has been set up to inquire whether the government could have prevented the killing. The family has requested to meet the Prime Minister in order to discuss their concerns with the current people chosen for the board. According to Galizia's family, they are unfit for the purpose.
The inquiry board
The board set up by the government for public inquiry of the case constitutes of Michael Mallia a retired judge, Ian Refalo a lawyer and constitutional law expert and Anthony Abela Medici a former forensics expert. The family of the late Maltese journalist believes that the board is unfit if people have a reason to doubt it's 'independence' or trust their impartiality. However, even while the family is requesting to meet the PM, the government reportedly said on September 21 that they stood by their appointments and arrangements for meetings are being done.
The accused
Three Maltese men have been ordered to stand trial for the murder of an investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. Investigative officers believe that these men originally worked for someone else and are trying to identify the mastermind. However, there are no leads on who ordered her assassination or motive behind the murder.
Galizia's son had requested a public inquiry in order to focus on how she dies instead of narrowing her death to simply how she died. Paul Caruana Galizia also wanted an investigation into the actions of Malta's “mafia state”. The journalist's family wanted an independent inquiry mainly because without it they won't be able to rule out the possibility of the state's involvement. However, any involvement by the state has not been proven.
Scrutiny after murder
Nobody has been arrested yet for the murder of the 53-year old journalist. Caruana Galizia became one of the best-known journalists of Malta for her regular reports on allegations of corruption on the Mediterranean island. The island is a member of the European Union and uses the shared euro currency. Dutch lawmaker, Pieter Omtzigt had said previously said that he understands why the journalist's family had “no confidence” in the ability of the Maltese authority after the delay in the investigation. He also believed that there was a need for an independent public inquiry. A draft resolution was adopted in order to put pressure on the Maltese government to address the rising concerns.
(With inputs from AP)
Updated 16:44 IST, September 22nd 2019