Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1463840
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 APRIL 2022 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ONE News have also reported the car was found locked, and its keys were not inside the vehicle. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed the case is be- ing treated as a murder investi- gation. The car was found in Qormi valley on Tuesday afternoon and was flagged to police after a foul smell was emanating from inside the trunk. The spokesperson said in- vestigations were underway to determine where the murder took place and when the car was parked in the spot where it was found. The police have confirmed that the car, a grey Peugeot 407, is the same one flagged in a po- lice statement last Saturday in a missing person's report. The missing man was 62-year- old Mario Farrugia from Pem- broke, who was last seen on 28 March close to his home. The police had said Farru- gia made use of a grey Peugeot 407 with the registration plate BGY074. The car was towed away by the police for further investigation. A photo of the back side of the car shows what appear to be blood stains from the trunk trickling down to the bumper, although this has not been confirmed. Investigations are being led by the police's major crimes divi- sion and the vice squad. Police said that Farrugia was not previously known to them. Magistrate Gabriella Vel- la is conducting an inquiry. Forensic doctor Mario Scerri was also on site. Police treating gruesome discovery in Qormi as a murder investigation The car belonging to Mario Farrugia being towed to police headquarters for further forensic analysis, with what appears to be dried bloodstains on read bumper 719 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Tuesday, accord- ing to open data published on- line by Malta's COVID response team. Five deaths occurred in the last 24-hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 649. There are currently 7,573 ac- tive cases. Information published by the health authorities does not in- clude the number of persons in the hospital. So far 351,368 have received the COVID-19 booster dose. 1,532 PCR tests were con- ducted in the last 24-hours. On Monday the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses warned that Mater Dei Hospital was in severe crisis, claiming that COVID-19 patients were being spread across all wards after Health Minister announced the further relaxation of measures. Five die as 719 new COVID-19 cases are registered