A contractor has been charged with the grievous bodily harm of a migrant worker, who was dumped on the side of the road after falling two storeys from a construction site.
Glen Farrugia, director of J&G Farrugia contractors was also charged with trying to cover up the traces of a crime by removing the Gambian man from the accident scene on Tuesday.
Farrugia denies a list of 20 charges including a series of breaches of employment and health and safety laws. He was denied bail.
The charges are related to an incident that caused widespread outrage on Tuesday when 32-year-old Jaiteh Lamin was abandoned on Selmun Road, Mellieħa, after he fractured his spine in a construction site fall.
The court heard how Farrugia showed no remorse and did not cooperate with police when they questioned him about the incident.
Setting out the case against him, Inspector George Frendo alleged Farrugia had moved his illegally hired employee from the site of the accident at Triq Dun Franġisk Sciberras Mellieha and dumped him on the road.
When police were called to the scene, the victim was "barely able to speak" but was able to identify Farrugia.
The 31-year-old contractor from Żebbuġ is also accused of failing to protect his workers by not providing protective gear and not taking all necessary measures to ensure safe work at a height.
He is also accused of employing workers without permits and failing to pay his employees adequately, including on public holidays and for overtime.
Farrugia's defence lawyers contested the validity of the arrest, saying Farrugia was not formally told he was under arrest, nor given any reasons why he was held.
Arguing for bail to be granted, lawyer Franco Debono said his client had a "quasi-clean criminal record", would submit to all court guarantees and did not pose a flight risk.
However, Magistrate Nadine Lia denied bail, given the circumstances of the case, saying there was a fear of Farrugia tampering with evidence and adding that the victim still needed to testify.
AS IT HAPPENED:
Sitting ends
12.24pm That's all from court today. Thank you for joining us. In a few minutes, we'll have a brief summary of the sitting.
Bail denied
12.20pm After hearing submissions, the court considered the circumstances of how the alleged offence took place and also that the victim must still testify, and so denies bail. Farrugia will be taken to prison.
The court said there was "still a real fear of tampering with evidence", as well as the fact that evidence must be preserved.
However court urges the prosecution to summon the victim to testify at the first available opportunity after his hospitalisation.
Defence argues for bail
12.16pm Debono lists other reasons bail should be granted. He has a family, has no intention to abscond, can guarantee to appear at all hearings, will submit to any court condition and had gone to the police station immediately.
The defence contests that he tampered with evidence and says that the evidence could have been preserved in a magisterial inquiry, which did not take place.
Farrugia's version 'different'
12.14pm Debono continues. He says his client has the right to silence but at "an opportune stage" will give his version, which "is somewhat different to that of police".
'Quasi-clean criminal record'
12.10pm The defence sets out reasons why bail should be granted. Debono says the accused has a "quasi-clean criminal record". He had a conditional discharge dating back to 2008 or so. "Hence he’s not untrustworthy," Debono says.
Most charges don't carry lengthy jail term
12.07pm The defence says that save for the charge of grievous bodily harm, the other charges don’t exceed one year's jail term. Those are occupational health and safety and employment related, he points out.
Prosecution objects to bail
12.06pm The prosecution objects to bail saying that Farrugia tampered with evidence and so there’s real risk that he will do so again. He also showed no remorse, they say. "He might tamper with the victim who is in hospital," the prosecution adds.
20 charges
12.04pm Farrugia faces 20 charges in all in relation to the incident and various employment law breaches.
Not guilty plea
12.02pm Farrugia stands to confirm that he’s a building contractor, aged 31, from Zebbuġ. He pleads not guilty.
Packed courtroom
12pm The inspector reads out at top speed the lengthy charges. It's difficult to keep up.
The courtroom is packed with officers, lawyers and relatives all packed in. The accused’s plea should now follow.
Grievous bodily harm among charges
11.47am The list of charges include:
- Grievous bodily harm, in personal capacity and as director of the company.
- Trying to cover up the traces of crime.
- Breaches of health and safety regulations regarding his workers including lack of training, and supervision at the workplace, to make necessary arrangements to protect his workers.
- Failed to evaluate and avoid risks at work, to give the workers adequate information, to take all necessary measures to make sure that work in high places does not result in such incidents, to put up stable structures for that purpose, protective barriers to avoid falls, of sound material and placed at adequate height.
- Failed to provide sufficiently protective gear, to check the condition of such gear in light of the risks at play, that gear is provided free of charge, in good hygienic condition, to consult representative of health and safety.
- Failed as director to inform Jobsplus that he employed the victim. He employed workers without licence, having no valid permit.
- Failed to pay relative wages in terms of law for the hours worked on public holiday (€150 on 21/9) and also leave payments, the statuory bonus, failed to pay wages between 20 to 28 September - €586 in total.
- Failed to give necessary documents to his workers.
Charges read out
11.45am Inspector Frendo begins to read a lengthy list of charges against the 31-year-old contractor from Zebbuġ.
Not informed of arrest
11.41am Debono claims Farrugia was not formally informed of his arrest and the reasons why. Arrest is the most sensitive moment in the whole course of the case, he argued. Even if a person is placed in handcuffs, police must still formally inform the suspect of his arrest, he said.
Frendo clarifies that he cannot vouch for something a colleague might have said. He wasn’t present at the time. Frendo makes reference to the charges and says that they show clearly why he was arrested.
Prosecution hits back
11.38am Frendo hits back. "Police must establish facts," he says. "At the time of arrest police had reasonable suspicion that Glen was the employer and he was summoned for questioning, as done in the ordinary course of work."
He said it was an early stage of the investigation and charges were not clear.
At 4pm on Tuesday, the suspect released a statement. At first he refused legal assistance at Qawra police. Later he chose not to sign the police statement.
Defence argues further
11.33am Defence lawyer Franco Debono makes reference to article 355 of the Criminal Code. This is about the legitimacy of the arrest. He says it’s the prosecution who must get evidence, direct not hearsay, that the arrest was valid. He says Frendo’s testimony shows that we do not know the officer, name and rank who decided to arrest Farrugia.
"At least the prosecution should be able to tell us who took the decision to arrest to ensure that legal requisites were satisfied. So we contest the validity of the arrest," he says.
He refers to a decree in separate proceedings where arrest was deemed invalid. Lawyers fire names and dates of decrees to buttress their arguments.
Health and safety
11.30am The prosecution informs the court that a Jobsplus representative is here regarding charges concerning employment and health and safety issues. There are also representatives from the Department For Industrial and Employment Relations, lawyers Andrew Grima and Mattia Felice.
No evidence to preserve
11.26am The defence asks if the police requested a magisterial inquiry. The inspector confirms but says that duty magistrate Rachel Montebello said that since the victim had been moved from the accident site, there was no evidence to preserve.
Defence contests validity of arrest
11.23am The defence is contesting the validity of the arrest and asks for more detail.
The prosecution says Farrugia was informed of the arrest and refused legal assistance. He was taken to Mosta police station and did not answer most of the questions.
The victim explained that he was taken from the accident site to that Selmun road and police felt that was sufficient suspicion to question the employer, the prosecution explains.
Victim identified Farrugia
11.20am Inspector Caruana continues for the prosecution. The inspector says the victim identified the employer, despite being barely able to speak. Farrugia was summoned to Qawra police station.
Victim fractured his spine
11.16am The prosecution sets out the case against Farrugia. They allege a man involved in a work place accident was moved from the site and dumped at Selmun road. The victim fell down two storeys. His employer allegedly moved him and told him to wait for help there. The victim fractured his spine.
The employer should have safeguarded his worker, the prosecution say. Farrugia did not cooperate with police, they add.
Case begins
11.13am Glen Farrugia enters the hall and talks to his lawyers. Superintendent Priscilla Caruana Lee and Inspector George Frendo are prosecuting.
Jaiteh's story
11.04am Magistrate Lia is hearing another case. While we are waiting, you can read our journalist Kristina Abela's interview with Jaiteh.
Jaiteh Lamin is being treated in hospital for neck and back injuries. Photo: Caroline GaleaContractor arrives
10.58am Glen Farrugia has just arrived at court, accompanied by a police officer. We're in hall 14, waiting for the case to begin. Farrugia is being represented by lawyers Franco Debono and Matthew Xuereb.