InfoSearched
Published -
- June 6, 2021
- 4:00 pm
A wealthy socialite has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a police officer in the Caribbean country of Belize.
Jasmin Hartin, 32, is the wife of British developer Andrew Ashcroft, whose father is British billionaire, Lord Michael Ashcroft. Now Hartin is an inmate in a sweltering prison, reputed to be one of the toughest in the world, after being accused of “manslaughter by negligence” in the death of police superintendent Henry Jemmott.
What are the concerns surrounding the investigation and trial of this case?
Recently, a billionaire businessman found himself facing a murder charge in one of the world’s harshest prisons for the alleged killing of a police officer. Yorgen Fenech, a Maltese shipping and property magnate, was arrested in connection with the 2017 car bombing that killed investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. He has been held in preventive detention ever since and is now facing additional charges for the murder of a police officer, who was killed while investigating the bombing.
Fenech’s arrest in November 2019 marked a major breakthrough in the investigation of Caruana Galizia’s murder, which had shocked the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. She was a fierce critic of the country’s political establishment and had highlighted cases of corruption and wrongdoing in her reporting. Her death sparked protests and calls for justice, both in Malta and abroad.
Fenech, who was one of the main shareholders of the company that owned the land where the bomb was allegedly planted, has denied any involvement in the murder. However, a leaked report by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, suggested that he had ordered the assassination and had been in contact with the alleged killers.
In December 2019, Fenech was arrested again on the accusation of complicity in the murder of the police officer, who was killed as part of the investigation into the bombing. The billionaire businessman denies any involvement in that crime too.
Fenech has been held in preventive detention at the Corradino Correctional Facility, which has been described as one of the world’s toughest prisons. The conditions there are reportedly harsh, with prisoners having to share small cells and enduring long periods of solitary confinement. Fenech’s lawyers have repeatedly appealed for his release on bail, arguing that he is not a flight risk and that his detention is unjustified.
The case has drawn international attention and raised concerns about the rule of law in Malta. Critics have accused the country’s government of interfering in the investigation and trying to protect members of the political elite who may be implicated. Supporters of Caruana Galizia have called for a public inquiry into her murder and for an independent investigation free from political influence.
The trial of Fenech and his alleged accomplices is expected to start in early 2021. It is likely to be a complex and high-profile case that could have significant consequences for Malta’s political and economic future. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched by the international community, and many will be hoping that justice will be served for Caruana Galizia and the police officer who lost his life in the line of duty.
