Chronology

El Hiblu 3 About Us

28.03.2019The 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.
30.03.2019Amara, Abdalla, and Kader are charged with nine crimes, including terrorism and hijacking. Their initial bail request is denied.
09.04.2019Submission of Prosecution and Defence
24.06.2019Prosecution requests independent age assessment
12.09.2019Prison authorities reject EH3 lawyers’ request for interpreters
24.10.2019Hearing adjourned to 30 October
29.10.2019EH3 defence lawyers request bail for 19-year-old Abdalla
30.10.2019Hearing adjourned due to missing documents
31.10.2019EH3 defence lawyers request for Amara and Kader, who are 15 and 16 years old
07.11.2019Bail hearing, decision adjourned to 12.11.19
12.11.2019Bail hearing, decision made ‘in camera’
15.11.2019Bail granted
20.11.2019Amara, 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.
06.01.2020Hearing
28.03.2020Solidarity 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.
01.04.2020Hearing
25.06.2020Hearing
30.07.2020Hearing
19.11.2020Hearing
30.11.2020Amnesty International adds the El HIblu 3 to their letter writing campaign
04.03.2021Hearing: First survivor testifies, almost two years after arrival, after repeated complaints from the defence.
15.04.2021Hearing postponed
21.05.2021Hearing: Fellow travellers testify that EH3 were a calming influence
25.05.2021Hearing
24.06.2021Hearing: fellow traveller testifies that there were no weapons on board
07.10.2021Hearing
13.10.2021Hearing: Witness saw no fighting between the captain and the accused
11.11.2021Representative 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
18.11.2021Hearing: Court cannot locate all witnesses
03.02.2022Hearing: Two witness testimonies confirm that the accused ‘calmed down’ fellow migrants
08.02.2022Hearing: witness testifies
10.03.2022Hearing postponed
15.03.2022Hearing: survivors continue to give testimonies
12.04.2022Hearing: a court appointed IT expert speaks about the cameras on board the El Hiblu 1 tanker
23.05.2022Hearing: prosecution rests its case
26.05.2022Hearing: prosecution rests its case
15.09.2022Hearing: Court expert reads from his 3.5 year old report about the track of the El Hiblu 1
22.11.2022Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case
02.02.2023Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case
02.02.2023Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case
09.03.2023Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case
24.05.2023Hearing: Magistrate Nadine Lia explains that the Attorney General’s office has requested more time to file the bill of indictment
28.06.2023Hearing: The magistrate confirms the prosecution is resting its case
12.09.2023Hearing: The prosecution requests another deferral as some case files still need transcription
06.11.2023Attorney 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.
13.03.2024The 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.
13.04.2024The 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.
30.05.2024The 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.
06.11.2024Next hearing in front of the Appeals Court of the Criminal Court who will decide on the issue of out-of-jurisdiction.