Commissioner defends police in rape case investigations

Police commissioner John Rizzo yesterday defended the conduct of the police investigating the rape of a woman in Floriana, saying they had acted in good faith throughout.

The police had charged Libyan Jamal Badawi with rape after the Floriana woman was attacked in a subway, but proceedings were dropped after another man confessed to the crime.

Mr Rizzo said that now the case against Mr Badawi was over, he felt certain details should be made public so people would realise why the police had acted in the way they did.

Mr Rizzo said that after the rape at the end of June, the police were initially not in a position to issue an identikit as those that were drawn up were still not good enough according to the rape victim.

The police then issued a photo of a person whom the victim identified from police criminal records, and this was released. When Mr Badawi, who bore a striking resemblance to the photograph released by the police, was arrested, the woman said she was sure he had attacked her.

Mr Rizzo said that apart from a positive identification by the victim, the police had other reasons to charge Mr Badawi, who had given a false alibi.

In fact, from Mr Badawi's itemised phone bill, it transpired that he had actually been in Floriana a few hours after the rape took place.

One of the people he had spoken to on the day the rape was committed told police Mr Badawi was trying to escape from Malta as he was being sought by the police.

Mr Rizzo said the DNA profiling was inconclusive as the swab taken from the woman's face was contaminated.

The police had a duty to present Mr Badawi in court with the evidence they had in hand, and knowing that he was trying to flee, Mr Rizzo said.

However, when a minor admitted to the rape charge, the police informed the court of the information and Mr Badawi's case was brought forward and he was bailed.

Mr Rizzo said Mr Badawi was, however, kept in prison because he had jumped bail in another case.

The minor who confessed to the Floriana rape, has since been accused of two others. He is expected to be charged with the Floriana offence shortly.