Moroccan Man Found Dead in Malta Garden; Family Seeks to Bring His Body Home
Abdellatif Oumakhlouf, 31, had gone to Malta to work and support his family in Morocco. Found dead on Sunday in a garden in St Julian’s, he is now to be repatriated at his parents’ request. Maltese authorities released his body on Tuesday.
Having lived on the island for just over a year, the Moroccan worked in construction. He was the main financial support for his parents and younger brother, Dounia Borg Lakehal, president of an association representing the Moroccan community in Malta, told the Times of Malta. His employer, Attard Bros Group, said it was in contact with his family to offer support.
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On Sunday, September 27, at around 6:30 a.m., emergency services found Abdellatif Oumakhlouf at Spinola Gardens with a serious injury to the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Footage collected by police shows a verbal altercation that turned physical with another man. According to the Times of Malta, he is said to have been struck, fallen backward and hit the ground.
Suspect charged as family waits for answers
A 27-year-old Polish tourist, Sebastian Malinowski, was arrested about an hour and a half later. Appearing before a Maltese court on Monday, he was charged with voluntarily causing Abdellatif Oumakhlouf’s death and with grievous bodily harm causing death. He pleaded not guilty. The cause of the altercation remains unknown.
According to Dounia Borg Lakehal, the young man had gone to Paceville for the first time and lost sight of the friends who were with him. His family is still waiting to understand what happened.
The family now wants to bury him in Morocco. MaltaToday reported on Tuesday, September 29 that the authorities had released the body and that repatriation arrangements had begun. The documents are being processed by the Moroccan embassy in Rome, which is accredited to Malta.
Abdellatif Oumakhlouf’s body has not yet been repatriated. His parents are waiting to be able to bury him in Morocco.
