Ten arrested over murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
MALTA - Ten people have been arrested in Malta over the murder of the investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese prime minister has said.
Caruana Galizia, who was a relentless critic of corruption in the country, died in October in a powerful car bomb blast yards from her home. Joseph Muscat, the prime minister, said in an early morning press conference that there was “reasonable suspicion” that the individuals were involved in the murder. The police have 48 hours to question the suspects and decide whether to prosecute or release them. At least eight of the suspects were Maltese citizens. Muscat offered his “personal commitment” that no stone would be left unturned in finding who commissioned and then executed the killing. The prime minister did not offer any details about what evidence had been found or how the individuals were possibly connected to the crime, but he pointed to work that had been done by the FBI, Europol, and Finnish security services to help the police. Matthew Caruana Galizia, the son of the murdered journalist, who is also a reporter, told the Guardian that his family were “in the dark” about the arrests and had not been offered any information. The family, he said, received a phone call from a magistrate’s office after the arrests were known but did not have additional details.
The Maltese government’s handling of the investigation has been a source of controversy because of allegations that it has not been impartial or independent. Caruana Galizia’s family have taken legal action against the Maltese police force and asked for the chief police investigator in the case, Silvio Valletta, to be removed from the investigation because he is married to a top government minister. Both were subjects of Caruana Galizia’s critical reporting. The police have not responded to the legal claim. (Theguardian.com)