Top investigator dies aged 65

Former Police Commissioner Alfred Calleja died yesterday aged 65.

Mr Calleja joined the police force as a constable in 1960. He was promoted to sergeant in 1964 and CID inspector two years later. He remained with the department until 1979.

He left the force in 1980 "on medical grounds" but was re-instated in May 1987 and promoted to superintendent three months later. He served as Police Commissioner between 1988 and 1992.

Between 1992 and 1996 he was attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs as consultant.

He was one of the CID inspectors who attended courses in criminal investigation in the UK.

President Emeritus Guido de Marco, who was Minister of Justice and Home Affairs between 1987 and 1990 and had appointed Mr Calleja deputy Police Commissioner and later Commissioner, said Mr Calleja deserved all the praise he could get.

"He was a personal friend and was extremely loyal; an officer who had come up the ranks and brought a sense of belonging and respect to the force during those three years when the country was just emerging from a series of disturbing events.

"He was also one of the most competent investigators," Prof. de Marco added.

Police and crime historian Eddie Attard, author of Delitti Maltin F'Malta 1 and 2, said Mr Calleja used to mix with the lower grades in the service in order to feel the pulse of the force.

"He was one of the very few inspectors who used to have tea and play billiards with the lower ranks when this was technically against the rules but he never let go of the discipline synonymous with the police.

"No member of the lower ranks called him Fred for he was still their superior officer and they respected him as that," Mr Attard recalled.

Mr Attard said Mr Calleja was a fine investigator but he simply hated paperwork. He was an avid learner who struck up a strong friendship with inspector Felic Testa at the CID. "He was always looking to learn more about his job," Mr Attard added.

Among the cases he was involved in were a hold-up on a bank in Mgarr, Malta, when a clerk had been shot dead, and the theft of Caravaggio's St Jerome.

The eldest of Mr Calleja's children, Pierre, who has followed in his father's footsteps and is a superintendent within the CID, said he considered him as "a father and a friend".

"My father never wanted me to take up the same career as him because probably he did want me to go through the tough time he had experienced. But once I joined the service he was most appreciative and proud of what I was doing.

"He made it a point to spend as much quality time with me as he could," he added.

Fr Marius Zerafa, who was director of museums when the St Jerome was stolen on December 29, 1984, said Mr Calleja, together with Brigadier Maurice Calleja had coordinated a plan to checkmate the thieves who were demanding a ransom for the release of the priceless painting.

Fr Zerafa described Mr Calleja "as a true gentleman and a very good detective".

Mr Calleja is survived by his wife Ina and his children Pierre, Louise who is a police inspector, Patrick and Lorraine.

His funeral will take place today.