The Maltese-Moroccan community came together on Wednesday, October 7, to bid a heartfelt farewell to Abdellatif Oumkhlouf, a 31-year-old Moroccan man who was tragically killed in San Giuliano. Oumkhlouf's friends, colleagues, and members of the Moroccan community gathered at the Mater Dei hospital morgue, where they surrounded his coffin and performed a funeral prayer. This somber gathering took place before the arrangements for transporting his body to Morocco were finalized.
According to local press reports, the Maltese police received a distress call at 6:30 am on Sunday, September 27, regarding an injured person in a public park in San Giuliano. Police and ambulance crews promptly arrived at the scene, where they found Oumkhlouf, who had sadly passed away. A 27-year-old Polish man, identified as Sebastian Malinowski, was apprehended approximately two hours after the discovery of Oumkhlouf's body.
Investigations revealed that Oumkhlouf had engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with Malinowski within the park. CCTV footage showed Malinowski assaulting Oumkhlouf, who sustained a severe head injury after being punched and falling onto the concrete ground. This resulted in a fatal brain injury and subsequent death. Malinowski appeared before the Maltese court, facing charges of intentional homicide and causing serious bodily harm that led to Oumkhlouf's death.
During the court proceedings, Malinowski pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his lawyer did not request bail at that stage. As a result, Malinowski remained in custody pending further judicial investigations. According to the court, Malinowski works in a warehouse in the Netherlands and was reportedly a boxer.
Friends and colleagues of Oumkhlouf described him as a quiet and respectful young man who did not seek trouble. Having moved to Malta about a year and a month ago, Oumkhlouf worked in the construction sector for Attard Brothers. His primary goal was to support his family in Morocco, and his visit to the Paceville area, known for its vibrant nightlife in San Giuliano, was his first.
The Moroccan community in Malta rallied around Oumkhlouf's family to offer support and assistance with the procedures related to repatriating his body to Morocco. It was expected that Oumkhlouf's body would arrive in Morocco on Friday, October 9, allowing his family to finally receive him and perform the burial.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of support from the Maltese-Moroccan community, highlighting the strong bonds between the two nations. As the community comes to terms with the loss of Oumkhlouf, they also hope for justice to be served through the ongoing judicial process.
Key points
- A 27-year-old Polish man, Sebastian Malinowski, was charged with intentional homicide and causing serious bodily harm.
- Oumkhlouf had moved to Malta about a year ago to work and support his family.
- The Maltese-Moroccan community came together to support Oumkhlouf's family in the repatriation process.
