28.03.2019 | The El Hiblu 1 oil tanker arrives in Malta with over 100 people rescued at sea. Five of the travellers are arrested and taken to Corradino Correctional Facility, Malta’s largest, adult prison. |
30.03.2019 | Amara, Abdalla, and Kader are charged with nine crimes, including terrorism and hijacking. Their initial bail request is denied. |
09.04.2019 | Submission of Prosecution and Defence |
24.06.2019 | Prosecution requests independent age assessment |
12.09.2019 | Prison authorities reject EH3 lawyers’ request for interpreters |
24.10.2019 | Hearing adjourned to 30 October |
29.10.2019 | EH3 defence lawyers request bail for 19-year-old Abdalla |
30.10.2019 | Hearing adjourned due to missing documents |
31.10.2019 | EH3 defence lawyers request for Amara and Kader, who are 15 and 16 years old |
07.11.2019 | Bail hearing, decision adjourned to 12.11.19 |
12.11.2019 | Bail hearing, decision made ‘in camera’ |
15.11.2019 | Bail granted |
20.11.2019 | Amara, Abdalla, and Kader are released on bail after more than seven months in prison. They are subjected to very strict bail conditions, including being required to sign in with the police every day, and being barred from going within 50 metres of the coast. |
06.01.2020 | Hearing |
28.03.2020 | Solidarity campaign launched in solidarity with Abdalla, Amara, and Kader on the first anniversary of arrest. The campaign is initiated by Alarmphone, African Media Association in Malta, Mediterranea, and Sea Watch. |
01.04.2020 | Hearing |
25.06.2020 | Hearing |
30.07.2020 | Hearing |
19.11.2020 | Hearing |
30.11.2020 | Amnesty International adds the El HIblu 3 to their letter writing campaign |
04.03.2021 | Hearing: First survivor testifies, almost two years after arrival, after repeated complaints from the defence. |
15.04.2021 | Hearing postponed |
21.05.2021 | Hearing: Fellow travellers testify that EH3 were a calming influence |
25.05.2021 | Hearing |
24.06.2021 | Hearing: fellow traveller testifies that there were no weapons on board |
07.10.2021 | Hearing |
13.10.2021 | Hearing: Witness saw no fighting between the captain and the accused |
11.11.2021 | Representative from the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers confirms that the prosecution did not try to locate survivors from the El Hiblu rescue before September 2021 |
18.11.2021 | Hearing: Court cannot locate all witnesses |
03.02.2022 | Hearing: Two witness testimonies confirm that the accused ‘calmed down’ fellow migrants |
08.02.2022 | Hearing: witness testifies |
10.03.2022 | Hearing postponed |
15.03.2022 | Hearing: survivors continue to give testimonies |
12.04.2022 | Hearing: a court appointed IT expert speaks about the cameras on board the El Hiblu 1 tanker |
23.05.2022 | Hearing: prosecution rests its case |
26.05.2022 | Hearing: prosecution rests its case |
15.09.2022 | Hearing: Court expert reads from his 3.5 year old report about the track of the El Hiblu 1 |
22.11.2022 | Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case |
02.02.2023 | Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case |
02.02.2023 | Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case |
09.03.2023 | Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case |
24.05.2023 | Hearing: Magistrate Nadine Lia explains that the Attorney General’s office has requested more time to file the bill of indictment |
28.06.2023 | Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case |
12.09.2023 | Hearing: The prosecution requests another deferral as some case files still need transcription |
06.11.2023 | Attorney General files Bill of Indictment against Abdalla, Amara, and Kader. The original charges are replicated in full after almost five years, despite the testimonies heard. |
13.03.2024 | The Criminal Court starts hearing the lawyers’ submissions contesting the Bill of Indictment. Lawyers argue that this case is out of Malta’s jurisdiction and that therefore the case should be dismissed. |
13.04.2024 | The Coalition for the El Hiblu 3 presents Abdalla, Amara and Kader with the Human Rights Defenders’ Award at the University of Malta. Read our article here. |
30.05.2024 | The Criminal Court decides that terrorism is a “continuous act” and that the argument that the case took place outside Malta’s jurisdiction does not hold. Lawyers appeal this decision. |
06.11.2024 | Next hearing in front of the Appeals Court of the Criminal Court who will decide on the issue of out-of-jurisdiction. |