Valletta, Malta  - Normally tranquil Malta was in shock Monday following allegations made by a man on his deathbed that he was beaten up by police and thrown off the Mediterranean island's ancient bastions.

A judicial inquiry is underway into the April 8 incident when police summoned the man, Nicholas Azzopardi, for questioning on a matter involving his family.

Police then issued a statement saying the 38-year-old Azzopardi was in critical condition when "he jumped from a height after he tried to escape police custody".

But before he succumbed to his injuries on April 22, Azzopardi told a different story, his parents said.

"Nicky said the interrogating police began to hit him for no reason and that's when he retaliated and pushed one of the officers against the wall. The other officer, possibly trained in martial arts, flung a side-kick breaking four ribs and puncturing his lung. He subsequently lost consciousness," they were quoted as saying by the Times of Malta daily.

Malta's Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici has described the allegations as "extremely grave" adding that action will be taken, if they are proven true. (dpa)