Joe Debono Grech not guilty of threatening a police officer

Former Minister Joe Debono Grech has been found not guilty of threatening a police officer.

The case relates to an incident which took place on 6 September 2017. Debono Grech, who is a Gozo Channel director, was boarding one of the vessels when he saw a truck with faulty brakes blocking a number of cars.

Not satisfied with the way his complaint was being handled at the Mġarr police station, Debono Grech told PC George Scicluna that he would report him to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar.

The case courted significant controversy, not only due to Debono Grech’s political background, but because he was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Gieħ ir-Repubblika one month after the incident had taken place.

Debono Grech had also experienced significant backlash after threatening MP Marlene Farrugia during a parliamentary sitting during the last legislature.

The court, which was presided over by Magistrate Joe Mifsud, found that the evidence provided by the constable did “not entail the necessary ingredients” to find Debono Grech guilty, as a threat to report a police official to his or her superior was not considered a threat as according to law.

It was also ruled that the case which he wished to report, as one of the directors of the ferry service, was legitimate.

“Police officers should pay more heed to citizens whenever they are approached to provide assistance or lodge a complaint,” the magistrate said.