Alleged Ħal Far riot ringleaders plead not guilty in court

Eight migrants accused of being the ringleaders in the Ħal Far open centre riot on Sunday have pleaded not guilty to related charges. Bail was denied in view of the gravity of the crimes with which the men are charged, as well as their lack of ties to Malta.

Around 300 men were arrested on Monday morning following the riot, which resulted in a police car and three other open centre employee vehicles being set on fire and a police officer suffering slight injuries. Speaking with this newsroom, Integra Foundation director

Maria Pisani highlighted that the government has not contacted NGOs to develop better dialogue in order to deliver more concrete solutions to the current situation at Ħal Far.

Several arraignments relating to the riot took place yesterday in court. Sixteen of those arraigned yesterday were sentenced to six weeks detention, while the 64 who pleaded not guilty, including the ringleaders, were all denied bail.

The eight men accused of being

the ringleaders — Al Hassin Issa Al Amin, 21, from Chad, Zakria Mohammed, 19, from Central African Republic, Yusef Mutasin from Sudan, Ibrahim Ali, 20, from Sudan, Hammad Abubaida, 22, from Sudan, Ibrahim Bahar from Sudan, Oboke Cletus Chikadibia, 20, from Nigeria and a 16-year-old from Chad — were accused of carrying out the acts of violence during the riot.

Senior Inspector Melvyn Camilleri charged them with violently resisting the police, slightly injuring one officer, forming part of an illegal assembly, failing to disperse when ordered to, conspiracy to commit a crime punishable with imprisonment, arson, voluntary damage, disturbing the repose of persons during the nighttime, breaching the peace, disobeying legitimate orders, threatening a number of public officers, throwing stones and hard objects. A protection order was requested in favour of three police officers.

The arraignment of the migrants involved in the riot took place in different groups, with one further group to be arraigned today. The ringleaders and men accused of assaulting police officers were arraigned separately.

When proceedings began at around 1.45pm, Inspectors Roderick Attard, Eman Hayman and Oriana Spiteri read out the charges against the first tranche of 20 migrants. These individuals, from Somalia, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Chad and Sudan, entered their pleas to charges of disobeying lawful orders and “wilfully disturbing the public good order and peace.”

Fourteen entered guilty pleas, the other six pleaded not guilty and requested bail. This was objected to by the prosecution, which said it feared further crimes would be committed.

Defence lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace argued that the offences with which the accused were being charged were contraventions.

The court, in view of the circumstances which led to the arraignment and the fact that the accused had no fixed address or ties to Malta, denied bail.

The 14 who pleaded guilty were sentenced to six weeks detention.

The second group of men numbered 24 individuals in total, all from Sudan, and were arraigned at around 3pm on the same charges as the first group. Twentytwo of them pleaded not guilty. Two men admitted to the charges.

Their ages ranged between 15 and 38.

The two who pleaded guilty were given six-week prison sentences. The court denied bail to the rest, recommending that the five under-18s be held at the Young Offenders Unit (YOURS) at the request of the defence.

After judgment was handed down, two men wanted to change their plea to guilty but were instructed to tell it to the magistrate assigned to their compilation of evidence. Their time in preventive custody would be deducted from their eventual sentence.

A third group of 25 men, all from Sudan, were arraigned at 4pm on identical charges to the previous two groups. All 25 pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were also denied bail, the court giving the same reasons as in the previous arraignments.

Three men resident at the Ħal Far open centre were charged separately since they were accused of assaulting two police officers and a support worker. The men are Abdalla Muhammed Abdalla, 20, from Chad, a 16-year-old from Sudan, and a 17-year-old from Nigeria. The names of the minors cannot be mentioned by court order.

The three were prevented from entering the open centre on Sunday night after returning back drunk. They caused mayhem and police had to be called in. The incident led to the violence. The three men pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court remanded them in custody. Inspector Melvyn Camilleri prosecuted and legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace appeared for the three men.

Bail was requested but opposed by the prosecution as the men had just arrived in Malta. Camilleri argued they had no address other than the open centre. There is no structure that can cater for them, he said. The defence insisted that in the same way they were found and arraigned, they can be found again.

“The centre today is now a completely open centre, because the office is not functioning, not even their records can be found,” the inspector responded.

The court denied bail, saying they could not provide the required guarantees at law.

Government has not made any contact with NGO’s Integra Foundation director

This newsroom also contacted the Integra Foundation about the riots.

“The government has not contacted NGOs to develop a better dialogue in order to deliver more concrete solutions to the current situation in Ħal Far,” explained Maria Pisani, the foundation’s director.

“We call on the government to engage in better dialogue with us and NGOs - not for us to criticise and stamp our feet, but to recognise the challenges and see how they can be addressed correctly. We are eager to provide support whenever we can and we wish to see collaboration on policy.”

Pisani made clear that the Integra Foundation expresses its solidarity with the staff and management at the Ħal Far open centre.

Pisani called for better dialogue and collaboration between NGOs and the government to work hard to ensure the dignity, and security of the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) workers and centre residents. “As a foundation, we have been raising concerns about the conditions in

AWAS, the Safi centre and open centres for weeks and months. We have been arguing in support of the AWAS staff, for more support and more resources dedicated towards the open centre.”

She said that Malta should turn to the European Union for more support, not just in the financial sense, but also in its capacity to emphasise solidarity for these workers and residents. “We are calling for EU solidarity with Malta, especially since this year we have received the highest number of asylum seekers. We must also call for solidarity with refugees, as we must recognise what these refugees must endure and experience, and the conditions they face in the detention and open centre.” She highlighted that since it is not safe for the AWAS staff, it also implies that it is not safe for residents to live there.

“There are vulnerable people living at these open centres; a refugee is already very vulnerable but we also find unaccompanied minors living in these centres, who should not be there in the first place.” Pisani highlighted that the government must take up its responsibilities and that the EU should provide support.

On Monday, social media was full of racist comments and death threats against migrants, some even suggesting migrants should be shot at or gassed, she said. “I do not understand racism, but I understand anger, fear and frustration. We must work to reduce racism, as it only contributes to a toxic environment which helps nobody.” She said that Malta has already seen what happened when one allows racist comments, which led to the assassination of Lassana Cisse. “It is horrific to see such comments, and the government must do what it can to address such racism.” Pisani also mentioned that following the assassination of Cisse, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had announced the introduction of a new department within the OPM focusing on addressing racist issues and hatespeech in Malta. “What is being done in this regard? As an NGO we have heard nothing so far.”

Former president hits out against hate speech following }al Far riot

Former President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca also hit out against hate speech on social media following the riots at the Ħal Far Open Centre.

The former president, in a Facebook post, said: “In a full and effective democracy, the right to freedom of expression is sacred. However, fomenting hatred is an abuse of this right and a transgression of the human rights of others.”

“Ethical use of social media has become more important in an ever-changing world. I, therefore, urge those who use social media to be respectful in the way they communicate their diverse views. When used as a weapon, social media gives rise to hate speech and I firmly believe that as a nation we should be do everything possible to stamp this out.”