Jordan Azzopardi charged with attempted murder, 'extremely graphic' sex assault

Jordan Azzopardi, known as Malta's 'El Chapo', has been brought to court again to answer to crimes including attempted murder and sexually assaulting a man using an object. 

Azzopardi was charged on Thursday alongside Abdulmomen Abudagil with several counts of sexual assault, theft, unlawful detention, bodily harm, taking sexual footage or photos without consent, violent coercion, extortion, misuse of electronic equipment and causing the victim to fear that violence would be used against him.

Azzopardi alone is also accused of attempted homicide and breaching several bail conditions.

A police inspector told the court that police were notified of the crime at around 7.45pm on April 21 at a shop in San Ġwann.

When police arrived on site they secured the scene and made sure the victim was protected.

The victim immediately identified Abdulmomen as his aggressor, and the police arrested him on the spot.

After the victim was taken to Mater Dei Hospital, the police spoke to him to understand the circumstances of the crime.

He said that he had met with Abdulmomen and entered the shop together when the physical aggression began.

He was taken to the shop basement and was subjected to unconsensual sexual penetration with an object and nonconsensual sexual acts by a third party. The victim eventually managed to leave the scene.

'Extremely graphic' assault

Police later found out that the third party was Jordan Azzopardi, known as the ‘El Chapo of Malta’. He described himself as such to the police.

Statements were taken from both men, who invoked their right to silence.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defence team requested bail for Abdulmomen only.

Lawyer Jurgen Dalli from the office of the attorney general objected to this on the grounds that civilian witnesses still need to testify, other people are being investigated, and there is a real risk of the accused absconding.

According to Dalli, the victim told police that Abdulmomen said he would “take the first flight to Libya” if he reports the matter to the police.  

He described the sexual abuse as "extremely graphic".

Lawyer Franco Debono, representing both the accused, said that Abdulmomen’s father is willing to house him during the proceedings if allowed on bail.

He also played down concerns of evidence tampering since the victim already testified during the inquiry stage and so evidence has been preserved.

Debono also mentioned the accused’s clean criminal record, which posed no material risk of evidence tampering.

The prosecution pushed back on this. Dali said Abdulmomen is accused of “half of the criminal code”, which Debono described as “an exaggeration and hyperbole”.

Dalli also said a clean criminal record cannot disregard the gravity of the charges being brought against him.

He also said that the prosecution might ask witnesses different questions to what was posed to them at the inquiry stage.

The magistrate denied the bail request and ordered a protection order in favour of the victim.

Lawyers Adreana Zammit and Matthew Xuereb appeared for Jordan Azzopardi. Arthur Azzopardi, Marion Camilleri and Jacob Magri appeared for Abdulmomen.  Franco Debono appeared for both.

Azzopardi’s long criminal history

Last year, Azzopardi pleaded not guilty to setting two cars on fire in Marsascala.

He was also charged with unlicensed possession of a loaded firearm, drug possession (cocaine and cannabis), recidivism and money laundering.

The year prior, Azzopardi was spared being charged with a set of domestic violence charges against his long-term partner, seven months after she first forgave him of similar accusations.

On that occasion, he was also charged with the unlicensed possession of a firearm and breaching the conditions of previous bail decrees granted to him.

Seven months earlier - in August 2023 - a court heard how Azzopardi had allegedly threatened to throw his girlfriend off a balcony and throw acid on her to maim her in a text message.

Back then the woman had chosen to forgive him and said she had only reported him in heat of the moment.

Just one month before, a conviction against him for having seriously injured a man back in 2015 was quashed owing to a date error.

In 2019, Azzopardi was arrested and charged with heading a nationwide drug operation that earned him the nickname El Chapo ta’ Malta.

Police raided drug dens in Birkirkara, Balzan, Marsa, Gżira and Pieta as part of that operation, as well as Azzopardi’s rented villa in Madliena, where they found wads of cash hidden inside the walls of a shower.