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Police at Government Property Division following NAO report; workers stopped

January 20, 2016, 11:56 pm
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Workers at the Government Property Division are being kept this morning from going into their offices by the police, who are in the building, sources said. The workers, the sources said, were all urged to go into the yard and offices were kept closed. Workers were kept in the dark as to what was actually happening. A National Audit report published yesterday concluded that the division and former Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon failed to safeguard the government’s interest by expropriating property belonging to Mark Gaffarena in Valletta's Old Mint street, which although useful, served no identified public purpose. Dr Falzon stepped down from his role last night. "The prompt action taken by the Government Property Department (GPD) in advocating the expropriations instigated by Gaffarena, without any discussion or analysis, was deemed incomprehensible by the NAO.” Prime Minister Joseph Muscat later instructed the Police Commissioner to ensure that no files were destroyed at the division. He said the division will be reformed and will become an authority. Judge Lawrence Quintano was appointed to head a supervisory board to oversee the day to day running of the division...
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Updated - Vodafone scraps roaming charges, but raises tariffs

January 20, 2016, 1:29 am
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Vodafone has become the first local operator to scrap European roaming charges. The company announced this morning that it was introducing new post-paid plans providing customers travelling throughout Europe with free incoming calls, free calls and SMS to Maltese numbers and a free roaming data allowance. The RED plans will also offer the same rate for out-of-bundle calls and SMS to all European numbers, whether the customer is in Malta or abroad in Europe. The move follows a decision by the EU last year to phase out roaming charges altogether by June 2017. As an interim move, operators will only be able to charge a drastically reduced roaming fee as of this April. Vodafone Malta CEO Amanda Nelson said: “With the number of Maltese travelling abroad increasing by 15 per cent year-on-year, these new plans respond to a growing need on the part of Maltese consumers.” The new plans, which are available from today, are between €2 and €5 more expensive than existing contracts, although the bundles include increased allowances apart from the roaming benefits. Ms Nelson declined to comment on how the removal of roaming rates might impact Vodafone financially, but said that if customers...
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Helpline in distress

January 21, 2016, 5:00 am
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Maria* picked up the phone to dial 179 when the last of her three children graduated and got married. She told the volunteer manning the helpline she had been a victim of domestic abuse for 30 years and was now ready to speak up, as her children had all settled down. After she was referred to professionals, her husband too sought Appoġġ’s help to manage abusive behaviour. The 24-hour free service is also available to those who witness abuse. Such was the case for a flatmate who spoke up about an intellectually disabled woman who was being locked up for hours at a time in a bedroom with a bucket for her needs, Svetlana Buttigieg, who heads the support service, told this newspaper. The line relies heavily on professionally trained volunteers, who support a team of social workers and psychologists. There are about 40 volunteers answering calls, but the agency needs at least another 70 to keep up the support line and the Programm Ulied Darna, which relies on a separate cohort of 40 volunteers. The programme, limited to Appoġġ’s existing users, needs volunteers to train parents in budgeting and household skills, to mind children while parents are attending court or in hospital and...
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Foreign trips by sacked MIA CEO had raised suspicion, tribunal hears

January 21, 2016, 5:49 am
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In his final months in the post, Malta International Airport chief executive Markus Klaushofer made a lot of “suspicious” trips abroad and on one occasion had asked for the company’s 10-year strategic plan, a tribunal hearing an unfair dismissal case was told today. The Austrian national who held the post between 2012 and January last year, is vehemently denying that he leaked sensitive company information, saying such claims were only intended to tarnish his reputation. Former MIA chief financial officer Austin Calleja testified that unlike his predecessors, the former CEO would rarely deal with the company’s procedural matters, describing him as a being more of a “strategic type”. Though he used to travel regularly, the witness said that in his final months, the former CEO’s trips intensified and had raised suspicion.  “On one occasion he was in Paris and asked me for the company’s 10-year business plan which I duly sent him by e-mail,” the former CFO told the tribunal presided by Edmund Tabone. Mr Calleja added that he did not know why sucha  request had been made while noting that such sensitive information was not in the public domain. The witness also remarked that in...
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Mcast students speak of lack of resources, financial struggles

January 21, 2016, 3:36 am
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Lack of resources and recreational space, maintenance, and financial struggles were some of the complaints raised this morning by representatives of the 6,500 Mcast students from all of the six institutes within the college. The students were addressing the college’s officials, including CEO Stephen Cachia and President of the Board of Governors Silvio De Bono. Among others, sports students complained of lack of desks and facilities such as the athletics track. Beauty care students meanwhile complained of lack of maintenance of the salons, mentioning a particular “embarrassing” incident where part of the soffit fell in the presence of clients. Mechanical engineering students also complained of having to wait some four weeks to be able to use new equipment, such as the lathe machine, as there were only four such machines for 16 students. Others proposed student discount prices and better management of classes that required use of limited equipment. Mr Cachia welcomed the feedback, pointing out that Mcast was developed by utilising old buildings while new blocks were being built as the college was always running out of space because of the increasing number of students. However,...
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Breathalyser kits are not trusted by the police

January 21, 2016, 11:19 pm
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The new breathalyser unit donated to the police last December. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Police officers are becoming increasingly reluctant to use new breathalyser units donated because of doubts about their reliability, this newspaper has learnt. Though easier and more user-friendly than the bulky old devices, scepticism surrounds the new equipment donated last month by the Malta Insurance Association, police sources told this newspaper. “Since the introduction of the new device the number of spot checks carried out has gone down because it can give completely different alcohol-level readings within a minute of each other,” one source said. While there is no precise explanation for the “huge margin of error” in the results, early indications suggest that even consumption of breath fresheners, mouthwash or poor dental hygiene could affect the results, the source added. “Many officers who are regularly on patrol are becoming increasingly apprehensive about using these unreliable devices, fearing they might make a fool of themselves.” According to official figures supplied by the police, only 11 breathalyser tests were carried out on New Year’s Eve, even though a crackdown on drink-driving abuse had been promised. Of these, six drivers were found to be over the legal...
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Responsibility for Identity Malta passed on to Justice Ministry; another act in the PM's drama - PN

January 22, 2016, 8:54 am
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Responsibility for Identity Malta has been assigned to the Justice Ministry. The responsibilities include matters relating to citizenship and foreigners, the Central Visa Unit and matter relating to National Identity Management including the Public and Land registries, civil registrations, Identity Cards and passports.This was being done as part of the reengineering of the department’s works. Identity Malta was among the first agencies set up by the Labour Party after being returned to power in March 2013. It was the responsibility of the Home Affairs Ministry. Three Identity Malta employees were suspended from work on full pay last year and put on police bail for three months, however, no charges were ever brought against them as no evidence of wrong doing was found. Police bail has since been removed. Former PL official Joe Sammut was taken to court last August and accused of registering hundreds of fictitious companies to obtain residence permits for Libyan citizens. A number of low-ranking employees at Identity Malta had also been arraigned and admitted helping Mr Sammut. ANOTHER ACT IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DRAMA - PN In a statement, Home Affairs shadow minister Beppe...
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AG fails in appeal to seek harsher sentence over copyright infringement over sale of Playmobil toys

January 21, 2016, 3:49 am
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An appeals court has confirmed a sentence handed to a woman who had been conditionally discharged over copyright infringement related to the sale of Playmobil figures on the internet. The case dates back to 2009, when Victoria Vassallo was charged following complaints from Playmobil manufacturer Brandstätter Group. The company had claimed that the woman was selling its figures as part of set which was not part of its line of products, on Ebay, without its consent. In its decision the first court had found her guilty of just one charge – that of failing to seek authorisation from the company for including their product in her sets. The Attorney General, however, filed an appeal, seeking her conviction over the other counts. During proceedings, the online seller had described herself as an avid Playmobil collector for some 30 years, who had been “obsessed” with toys. The accused had even exhibited in court a model, which consisted of miniature court room complete with all figures representing a magistrate, the prosecution and the defence. In its decision the Criminal Appeals Court presided by Madame Justice Edwina Grima noted that the accused had in fact been selling Playmobil...
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PN says Broadcasting Authority not guaranteeing impartiality as its complaint on PM's New Year message is dismissed

January 22, 2016, 9:45 am
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The Broadcasting Authority has dismissed a complaint by the Nationalist Party that the controversial New Year broadcast by the Prime Minister was a form of political advert which was prohibited unless part of a Broadcasting Authority schedule. In its decision this evening, the authority said that since it was dismissing the complaint the party’s request for a remedy was being denied. In its decision, the BA said that the format and style of production did not fall within its responsibility so it could not pronounce itself on this aspect of the message. It said it also understood that public broadcasting had the duty to broadcast such messages by the Prime Minister of the day. It was acknowledged that in his New Year message to the nation, the Prime Minister would look back on his government’s work during the year and look ahead to the new one. This was also the style of New Year message by leaders of other European countries. The authority said it felt that, in this case, the matter dealt with in the message had been amply debated and all the different ideas were well known by all. BA NOT GUARANTEEING IMPARTIALITY - PN In a reaction, the Nationalist Party reserved its rights at...
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Muslim community's Friday prayers move to Ospizio in Floriana

January 22, 2016, 5:16 am
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Some 400 members of the Muslim community in Malta today met for their Friday midday prayers at the Ospizio in Floriana. The community will be using the site, which forms part of a complex of buildings used by the Education Department, temporarily until a long-term solution is found. For three Fridays in a row, the community met in front of the Msida parish for prayers because they had been evicted from their meeting places. The community was yesterday given the Ospizio to use temporarily, five days after a group of people protested against their presence there. The Education Ministry today provided transport from Msida to Floriana for those who might not have been aware of the new meeting place and went to Msida instead.  Malta Muslim Council spokesman Bader Zina said people had failed to understand why the community had been meeting in Msida and why its members needed a place to pray. But now, even due to media coverage, the community was given the opportunity to make its voice heard and the Ospizio was offered as a temporary solution to the problem. Mr Zina said the community was very grateful to the government’s understanding and said that discussions were ongoing to find a...
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Minister defends fuel policy amid criticism that consumers are not getting a fair deal

January 22, 2016, 8:20 am
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Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi defended the government's fuel hedging policy, saying consumers had benefitted from 10 reductions since Labour was elected to power. Addressing a news conference at the Enemalta headquarters in Marsa, he refuted claims that motorists were not getting a good deal when compared with their EU counterparts. Dr Mizzi said further reductions would be announced next April, but declined to give any details saying this could prejudice Enemalta's competitiveness with other importers especially in the diesel sector.  Commenting on the trend in fuel prices last year, the minister said that consumers on average saved 4c per litre of petrol when compared to the average EU prices, but admitted that more work needed to be done in the case of diesel.  An exercise carried out by the Times of Malta recently revealed that owners of diesel cars had been charged an average 4c more per litre. Dr Mizzi said that Enemalta would keep its existing hedging policy whereby fuel prices would be revised every three months if necessary. He also announced that in the coming weeks the company would be offering consumers superior high-spec fuels along the existing ones at the...
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Appeal by owner of crane that overturned and damaged cars 'frivolous' - court

January 22, 2016, 6:29 am
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A court of appeal has upheld an arbiter's decision to hold a crane owner responsible for the damage it caused when the crane overturned, also ordering the owner to pay double the costs for the “frivolous appeal”. The case dates to May 2009 when a crane was removing a large tank from a factory at the Bulebel industrial estate. The tank started to swing, causing the crane to topple over and come to rest on two parked cars, one of which belonged to Emanuel Gauci. Mr Gauci’s insurers, Untours Insurance Agency, filed proceedings against Victor Micallef, in whose name the crane was registered. Mr Micallef had stressed that his only connection to the incident was that the crane was registered in his name. He denied all responsibility for the accident, insisting that he had lent the crane to Roc-A-Go Crane Services Limited and that, at the time of the incident, he was at home. Furthermore, the appellant argued, nobody had witnessed the incident taking place and it had been the Health and Safety Authority that had concluded that an outrigger leg had not been properly deployed. But Mr Justice Anthony Ellul said there was “nothing to censure” in the conclusion reached by the arbiter that...
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Planning Authority stops work on controversial development

January 22, 2016, 1:17 am
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The site of the development in Siġġiewi . Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The planning authority stopped works on a controversial Siġġiewi development after this newspaper’s report led to an investigation. The development was in the name of a relative of a minister’s consultant. The investigation was requested by the Environment Ministry as the Agriculture Department – which provided the necessary documentation for approval of the development permit – falls under its remit. The Opposition on Wednesday called on the planning authority to conduct its own investigation into whether there were grounds on which the permit should be revoked. Asked why the works were suddenly stopped, Mepa CEO Johan Buttigieg said they had started a month ahead of the commencement notice given by the planning authority, which set the date of March 1. In view of a request to probe the validity of the documents submitted in the application process, the Mepa board decided to write to the official heading the government investigation, urging him to present his findings by not later than March 1 before works start. Works on a 280-square metre villa on fertile agricultural land outside development zones in Siġġiewi began on Monday, a day after The Sunday Times of Malta reported...
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Road closure next week to prepare for Kappara works

January 22, 2016, 7:24 am
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Part of Triq Birkirkara, San Ġwann will be closed between Monday and Friday next week in relation to the Kappara Junction project. Traffic from Triq Tas-Sliema, Kappara towards Triq in-Naxxar, San Ġwann will not be obstructed. Traffic from Triq in-Naxxar, San Ġwann towards Triq Tas-Sliema, Kappara will be diverted through alternative routes. For public transport: Route 120 from St Julian’s to Mater Dei Hospital will be diverted onto Triq R. Caruana Dingli to Triq Bellavista. No service will be provided in the area of San Ġwann Parish Church. The journey to Pembroke park-and-ride will not be affected. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution and to follow the diversion signs. Transport Malta apologised for any inconvenience.  
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Inquiry after environmentalist’s personal details leaked over report

January 22, 2016, 12:18 am
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Environmentalist Alan Deidun is accusing Mepa of unethical behaviour.

Mepa enforcement officers are being investigated after an environmentalist’s particulars were given to the father of a man he had reported over an illegal development. Alan Deidun told the Times of Malta he had filed a report last month on what he suspected to be an illegal development in an outside development zone in Gudja. Mepa investigated the report and ordered the removal of illegal additions on site, he said. However, on Wednesday, Prof. Deidun received an unexpected visit at his house from the father of the man he had reported. He said the visitor told him he had been tipped off by Mepa on the identity of the person who had filed the complaint and was determined to confront him. Although Prof. Deidun said he did not feel overly threatened during the encounter, he feared the situation could easily have turned ugly. The fact that the man who confronted him was now familiar with his family home was of concern, he admitted. “For all Mepa’s talk about protecting whistleblowers and encouraging the public to have a sense of civic responsibility, this goes against all sense of ethical behaviour,” he said. “This sort of attitude is why people are scared of speaking up about...
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'You're an onion marinated in mice droppings' - BA looks into Emmy Bezzina's offensive TV remarks

January 22, 2016, 4:52 am
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Controversial TV presenter Emmy Bezzina's latest insults against his viewers on Smash TV has prompted a probe by the Broadcasting Authority. Though the flamboyant lawyer is known for his pointed remarks, the comments he passed towards a viewer during his programme Il-Parlament Tal-Poplu appeared to have gone too far for many. Asked by a viewer why he did not get into politics, before branding him a "pea brain", Dr Bezzina called him an "idiot" and then urged him to "jump off Dingli Cliffs with a noose attached to his neck". "You're an onion marinated in mice droppings," Dr Bezzina replied. Another caller who claimed that his tie and shirt did not match prompted another diatribe: "I can see you through our special cameras, and I can tell you that even the rubbish dumped at Wied Ghammieq looks better than what you are wearing." When contacted, a BA spokesman said the authority was looking into the matter but said he could not further comment not to prejudice the case. The programme which often deals about issues of democracy and rule of law, promotes the right of people to speak up and be heard.  
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University lectures open to the public

January 22, 2016, 6:18 am
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Getting a taste of specialised academic disciplines like forensic pathology and nuclear physics without enrolling in a university course is now possible as a number of faculties are granting public access to selected courses. The prospectus includes courses from 13 faculties and institutes and covers arts, science, economics, management and accountancy, engineering, information and communication technology, theology, and European studies. Now in its fourth edition, this initiative which started off in 2011 is attracting some 100 applicants each year, mainly people aged 40 years and over. While some of them might be testing the waters before taking up a full-time course as mature students, others including pensioners do it for the sake of deepening their general knowledge. Anthropological sciences professor Paul Sant Cassia, who is the promoter of this initiative, told the Times of Malta that the idea has its roots in France, during the rule of Louis XIV in the 17th century. Having established the College de France, the French monarch wanted to open up this research institution to the public, Prof. Sant Cassia said. “In our case we wanted to make University of Malta courses...
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Ian Borg says permit case is ‘dead and buried’

January 22, 2016, 11:01 pm
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Critics felt that Ian Borg, unlike ex-parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon, appeared to have emerged unscathed from a controversial development case. Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

A month after the corruption watchdog published its findings on a controversial development permit granted to Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg, the young lawyer dismissed calls to resign saying that the case was “dead and buried”. The Permanent Commission Against Corruption found no evidence of corruption in terms of criminal law in connection with an application for two dwellings in Santa Katarina, limits of Rabat. However, the commission en-dorsed the conclusions of a probe by the Ombudsman, who had chastised the junior minister for choosing “a somewhat devious method” to file the application. This prompted calls by the Opposition for Dr Borg to resign. The Ombudsman also called on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to review the issued permit and reassess the application. The Ombudsman had concluded that Mepa had “removed the one possible reason (and a very strong one) for refusing the proposal (of a similar permit), thereby facilitating the process”. Dr Borg’s case came to the fore again earlier this week when planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon resigned in the wake of an investigation by the Auditor General into a controversial expropriation deal...
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Four hurt - two critically - in St Julians collision

January 23, 2016, 10:22 pm
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Four people were hospitalised, two in a critical condition, after collision between two cars in St Andrew's Road, St Julians, late yesterday The police said a Fiat Punto and a Mazda 121 collided at about 8.45 p.m. The Fiat was being driven by a 41-year-old man from Zabbar while a 53-year-old from Pembroke was driving the Mazda. Also in the Mazda were a 52-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, both from Pembroke. All persons were taken to hospital in a number of ambulances. The 53-year-old driver was found to be in a serious condition and the two passengers n the Mazda were found to be in critical condition.    A Magisterial inquiry is under way
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Case against Gaffarenas is ‘very ambiguous’

January 23, 2016, 6:00 am
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The Prime Minister is basing his claim in court to nullify a deal with Mark Gaffarena on a mistake that he says was made by a department falling under his political responsibility. Legal sources described the case as “very ambiguous” yesterday and said that it delved into “unchartered waters”. “Although it is difficult to say how it will be dealt with by the courts, it is a very strange case,” a senior lawyer said. “It is very difficult to see whether the government will be able to recoup the €3.4 million given to the Gaffarenas in cash and property as the government itself is admitting in the same court application it was its own department [Land] that made the crucial mistake,” he said. “To make the case even more ambiguous, the Prime Minister himself is now suing the office of the Commissioner of Land, which, ultimately, falls under his own political responsibility,” another lawyer noted. In their application filed on Thursday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Attorney General are arguing that the departments that struck the expropriation deal on the property in Old Mint Street, Valletta, committed a technical error when it gave compensation only to the Gaffarenas. “The...
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