Police union presses for health insurance after Ta' Giorni shooting
Union urges government to implement long-promised scheme 'as soon as possible' after two officers were injured
The Malta Police Force Union has renewed its call for the introduction of health insurance for members of the police force following Friday’s shooting in Ta’ Giorni which left a sergeant seriously injured and a constable with slight injuries.
The union urged government to implement the long-promised health insurance scheme “as soon as reasonably possible”.
In a social media post, the union said the introduction of health insurance for the police had been included as a commitment in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto.
“Following [Friday’s] incident, this commitment has taken on even greater importance,” the union said.
It added it “looked forward” to engaging with the government to ensure that “this important measure is progressed and implemented as soon as reasonably possible”.
Special Intervention Unit sergeant Johann Vella was seriously injured after being shot in the face and neck, while Constable Omar Sharif sustained slight injuries during the standoff.
Vella was initially in a critical condition, but sources told Times of Malta on Saturday evening that his condition had stabilised. He remains in intensive care at Mater Dei Hospital.
Pensioner John Agius was arrested following a 90-minute standoff with police after allegedly setting fire to material at a construction site adjacent to his property and shooting at police officers.
Agius is expected to be arraigned on Sunday morning. His brother George Agius, who escaped the scene on a motorbike, was also arrested.