Over 90 Croatian fans plead guilty

A total of 103 Croats were yesterday arraigned in connection with the ugly incidents that took place during the Malta-Croatia football match on Wednesday night.

Ninety-five of them pleaded guilty and were given a seven-month jail term, suspended for two years, except for two minors who were sentenced to a five-months suspended prison term.

Eight, including a sports writer, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm2,000. Their case will be heard over the coming days.

The arraignment was held in three sittings and the Croats, many of whom were still wearing their national football team shirts, were taken into court handcuffed in twos accompanied by a considerable number of Special Assignment Group police officers.

Police Inspectors Silvio Valletta and Jeffrey Cilia carried bundles of passports and charge sheets, a copy of which was given to each of the accused before they were arraigned.

Court proceedings, which started at about noon, lasted some five hours and it was clear from the outset that they would be long drawn. When asked whether they understood English, some of the accused at first said no but later said they did. One of the accused, who was born in America and spoke perfect English, was appointed as an interpreter.

Some wanted to know if the Croatian Embassy had been informed about their arraignment and the prosecution said they had informed the Croatian authorities through Interpol.

As the prosecution read out the charges, many followed attentively by reading the copy of the charge sheet they had been handed. Others sat and stared and a few looked around the room seemingly oblivious of the proceedings.

The charges included inflicting grievous bodily harm, taking part in an affray in which grievous bodily harm was caused, taking part in an assembly of more than 10 persons and assaulting and injuring policemen as well as spoiling and damaging property to the detriment of the Malta Football Association.

The accused were informed that those who pleaded guilty would be sentenced and removed from Malta, probably by today.

Most chose to plead guilty to all but the first charge of individually causing grievous bodily harm. The prosecution said the facts of the case fell fairly and squarely within the second charge of causing grievous bodily harm while forming part of a crowd.

When considering that the accused had filed a guilty plea at such an early stage, the court ruled that a suspended sentence was more fitting.

A few of those who pleaded guilty still protested their innocence and were warned by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima that they could either plead guilty or not guilty at any stage and they should not feel forced to admit to the charges brought against them.

One said he was a journalist and was pleading guilty but that he had "a good story as the police made a mistake".

Another pleaded not guilty but when he was informed that it was impossible to determine how long the proceedings would take because it depended on the number of witnesses to be produced he preferred to file a guilty plea saying that he would be getting married in a month's time.

The court followed standard procedure and each time a guilty plea was filed one was given time to reflect on the decision. Some of those who at first pleaded not guilty eventually decided to admit to the charges and were given the same suspended sentence.

The occupations of the accused was very varied and included a professor, economists, cabin crew personnel, a casino croupier, managers, civil servants and sports writers. Their ages vary between 17 and 50.

Some said they were students and others claimed they were unemployed.

Lawyers Renzo Porsella Flores, Malcolm Mifsud and Philip Galea Farrugia appeared for the Croatians.