On Thursday, Malta’s Repubblika civil rights organisation filed two police reports alleging criminal inaction on the part of Abela and Maltese armed forces commander Jeffrey Curmi.

Its second report was filed against 11 crew members of a Maltese patrol boat who allegedly cut the cables of the migrant dinghy’s motor.

The prime minister said in a television address late Friday that he had volunteered to cooperate with the police investigation.

“I was informed that, because of the nature of the accusations, the police have asked a magistrate to launch an inquiry into the armed forces officials and myself,” Abela said.

Investigators would probe “the homicide … of several irregular migrants at sea”, he added.

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“The charge for homicide carries with it a life sentence,” the Maltese premier said.

Maltese police reports are automatically investigated. Criminal proceedings can then be launched depending on how much evidence is found.

Both Malta and Italy have closed their ports to migrants, citing the threat of the novel coronavirus.

The Mediterranean representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said “several grey areas remain about what exactly happened”.

“But for sure, lives could have been saved, the rescue should not have been delayed, those ‘rescued’ should not have been returned to #Libya & now need to be rescued from serious risks to their life,” UNHCR special envoy Vincent Cochetel tweeted.



Abela said he had acted in Malta’s national interest by protecting its citizens from the coronavirus pandemic.

“My conscience is clear because we have done everything in our power to protect our people and all those who live in this country,” he said.

Abela insisted that Maltese ports would remain closed until the pandemic subsides.

“In a health emergency, this country is not a safe port for migrants,” he said.