Police Commissioner says no to resignation query

By Kurt Sansone

Police Commissioner George Grech, the centre of a magisterial inquiry investigating allegations of sexual harassment made by a former female university student, insisted that he is innocent and will not resign his post pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Asked by The Malta Financial and Business Times whether he thinks it appropriate to resign his post pending the outcome of the investigation, Mr Grech categorically denied the allegations.

Mr Grech told the newspaper that he insisted with the Inquiring Magistrate to hear his evidence and that of others if necessary.

The Malta Financial and Business Times is informed that a student who had been studying to become a probation officer had made the serious allegations in January this year. Subsequently, Magistrate Miriam Hayman was appointed to head a magisterial inquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, attempts to draw the Prime Minister and the Home Affairs Minister to comment on the story proved futile as they cited technical reasons not to voice their opinion on the situation.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that he is not informed of any magisterial inquiry concerning the Police Commissioner.

"I received no communication from any Magistrate on the existence of an inquiry like the one you referred to (the Police Commissioner Inquiry); I have also not received any complaint of the sort."

Dr Borg said that the Criminal Code provides that Magisterial Inquiries are confidential.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister’s Communications Co-ordinator informed The Malta Financial and Business Times that "the Prime Minister has nothing to add to the statement issued by both the Minister for Home Affairs and the Police Commissioner."