The Malta Independent on Sunday
Investigators ‘would not object’ to pardon if names are coughed up
Investigators behind the arrest of 10 people last Monday, and the arraignment of three of them on Tuesday, have told this newspaper that they would not object to the granting of presidential pardons for those who have been arraigned, as long as they cough up the name or names of whoever commissioned the deed.
Speaking to this newspaper under condition of anonymity, sources involved in the investigation into Caruana Galizia’s murder referred to the possibility of a pardon having been put on the table during interrogations, but were unable to confirm whether a concrete offer had been made.
Sources said, “We have been monitoring this group for ages and finally they made a mistake and we could nail them. Our main aim is that they never get out of there [prison].
“But if it [a presidential pardon] helps us find who commissioned the murder, if there was
indeed a mandante, then of course we would not object to it.
“Our aim, after all, is to close this case.”
The “mistake” sources refer to is George Degiorgio who realised he had no credit with which to send the SMS that triggered the detonation. Degiorgio, who was waiting on a cabin cruiser at the time, used another mobile phone to get a top-up.
Three men are currently being held in custody for the 16 October car bomb that claimed Caruana Galizia’s life; they were arraigned in court on Tuesday and charged with murder, conspiracy, forming part of a criminal gang, using explosives to kill, being in possession of explosives and relapsing.
They are: Vince Muscat, 55, also known as ‘il-Kohhu’, and brothers Alfred Degiorgio, 52, ‘il-Fulu’ and George Degiorgio, 54, ‘ic-Ciniz’.
All three pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody. Their financial assets were also frozen by the court, presided by Magistrate Neville Camilleri.
The three were part of a group of 10 men arrested on Monday morning in an operation that involved the police, Armed Forces and the secret service. This included a raid at Lighters Wharf in Marsa where, it is believed, the gang discussed and planned the murder.
The remaining seven men were released on police bail.
The prospect of the murder having been commissioned appears all the more likely given that Caruana Galizia had never written about Vincent Muscat, George Degiorgio, or Alfred Degiorgio, as her family confirmed this week.
They will now appear in court before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech in the coming week, when the compilation of evidence against them gets underway. Magistrate Frendo Dimech was selected by lot to hear the case.