The Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity announced in a statement this evening that it has appointed Judge Philip Sciberras to conduct an immediate independent inquiry into the case of German children found in Marsalforn, Gozo in June.

On Thursday, a court had said that Apogg “had shown that it was less able to look after the children than their own mothers.”

The children had been flown out of Malta by German social workers in secret 2 weeks ago. They had initially said that they were taking the children to the beach.

The Ministry said that it had “followed carefully the Court’s statement on this case and immediately informed the Chief Executive of the Foundation for Welfare Services that, apart from the investigation that is already underway involving Police and the Office of the Attorney General, among others, there will also be an independent inquiry.”

The Ministry also said that “in contrast to the negative claims made by the Opposition, the Minister for Family and Social Solidarity had answered every parliamentary question and every question from the media about this case and had absolutely never excluded an investigation about it.”

Judge Philip Sciberras will have open and unlimited access to information and the details needed to reach an independent conclusion, the Ministry concluded.

The PN had earlier today, after hearing what the court had to say about Apogg, called for an independent inquiry, and the Party welcomed this evening’s announcement by the Government.

Photo: Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Michael Farrugia

Permalink: Judge Philip Sciberras to lead inquiry into German children’s “abduction”