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Three chicken farms fail second round of testing for pesticide contamination

September 11, 2017, 10:03 am
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Egg supplies from three local farms continue to be blocked after a second round of testing yielded more traces of the pesticide fipronil, the health authorities said today.  READ: Tainted eggs: five chicken farms sealed A further two farms which were also banned from selling eggs have now been cleared after no further contamination was found. Contaminated eggs were first found in Malta at the end of last month when the health authorities said that while there was no health danger, people should not consume more than two eggs per day.  The Environmental Health Directorate and the Environment Ministry in a joint statement today said they were continuing to monitor the situation and all farms will be tested. Eggs withdrawn by the five farms where traces of fipronil were found after the initial round of testing have been destroyed.   More samples were tested last week. Three of the five farms failed once more while no traces were found in the other two. 
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Items stolen from Cospicua church recovered in police raid

September 11, 2017, 5:29 am
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Police have recovered jewels and sacred items stolen from Cospicua parish church in July. The items were discovered in a police raid on a house in Cospicua near St Helen Gate. READ: Two in court on Cospicua church robbery charges Two men were last week taken to court and accused of carrying out the theft, which included jewellery which adorned the statue of Our Lady and a number of chalices.  Items stolen were valued at around €30,000.  The thieves had climbed scaffolding on the facade of the church and then used a rope to climb down to the choir.  Marflene Cricchiola, 30, and Gianluca Sultana, 19, are both pleading not guilty to the theft.
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Briton lashed out at revellers who 'borrowed' his bike, court told

September 11, 2017, 7:30 am
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A British national residing in St Paul's Bay, who allegedly reacted violently when a group of young revellers jokingly borrowed his bicycle after a drinking spree at a local bar, was this afternoon remanded in custody pending a psychiatric report in his regard. Simon Anthony Robert Tartaglia, 34, from St Paul's Bay was escorted under arrest to face charges of causing grievious bodily harm to a young man, carrying a knife without police licence, breaching earlier bail conditions, threatening the four men with physical violence and disturbing the public peace. Magistrate Gabriella Vella, heard Inspector Godwin Scerri explain how at around 3.30am on Saturday, police at the St Paul's Bay station received information about an alleged stabbing in Pioneer Road. The officers came across the young man, a Czech national, lying on the ground, bleeding from a facial wound. Investigations led to the arrest of Mr Tartaglia as the suspect behind the alleged stabbing. In red shorts, a white t-shirt, flip flops and an arm bandage, the accused who is unemployed, stood before the magistrate, declaring ‘No comment’ in reply to the charges in court. With a rather perplexed expression, he listened as...
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No decision yet on income tax refund pledge

September 12, 2017, 2:01 am
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Edward Scicluna is still mulling whether the Labour Party’s income tax refund pledge will be introduced next year as he prepares for the Budget. The Finance Minister said yesterday internal discussions were still ongoing to determine what the government’s priorities for Budget 2018 would be. “No decision has been taken yet if the refund system will be introduced now or how it will be spread out,” Prof. Scicluna said after exiting a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. The PL electoral pledge was to introduce a tax refund system for those earning less than €60,000. The system would benefit even those who pay no tax, with those earning the least benefitting the most. READ: Muscat lays out details of income tax refund plan The lowest annual refund paid would be €200, going up to a maximum of €340. The PL promised to introduce the system gradually, making no mention of when it would start. With the Budget expected on October 9, Prof. Scicluna is now carrying out a wide consultation with ministries and social partners. Prof. Scicluna said he would have to balance the government’s electoral pledges, the 130 proposals made by the social partners and other...
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Malta as financial services centre drops 8 places since March on global index

September 11, 2017, 5:24 am
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Malta has dropped eight places since March 2017 to 85th out of 92 financial services centres, in the Zyen Global Financial Services Index released today. Malta improved its points since March by 15 to 609, but dropped in the rankings nevertheless. There was an overall drop in confidence amongst the leading centres. Of the top 25 centres, 23 fell in the ratings and only two rose. At the lower end of the table, 20 of the 25 lowest rated centres actually rose in the GFCI ratings, Zyen noted. “European ‘island’ centres did well. The British Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man all performed strongly and there were also strong rises for Malta, Reykjavik, and Gibraltar.” London and New York remained in first and second place, with 780 and 756 points respectively: “Interestingly, despite the ongoing Brexit negotiations, London only fell two points, the smallest decline in the top 10 centres. Hong Kong has moved just ahead of Singapore into third – only two points ahead on a scale of 1,000,” the report said. Read: London stays world's top finance centre despite Brexit “Western European financial centres are still volatile. Frankfurt, Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam...
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Missionary priest rebuts claims against him, says volunteer offered a worker beer for sex

September 11, 2017, 9:31 am
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A Gozitan priest, known for his missionary service over the past 20 years, testified in detail in court today about the funding of projects in Guatemala, rebutting allegations by a volunteer who is currently facing charges for having spread false rumours about him. “I am here with a heavy heart,” explained Fr Anton Grech upon taking the witness stand in the compilation of evidence against Luigi (Wigi) Duca, 67, from Ghaxaq, a volunteer whose regular trips to Guatemala to aid the needy in the parish of San Manuel Chaparron, ended on a sour note. Mr Duca is facing charges of fabricating evidence of a non-existent crime, making a false report to the police, knowingly reporting Fr Grech to the authorities for a crime which he had not committed, defamation and slander. Fr Grech told the court that following his first visit in 2007 with a group of volunteers from the Mission Fund, Mr Duca’s enthusiasm inspired him to collect funds which he then handed over for humanitarian projects intended to alleviate the suffering of his parishioners. Being very cautious when undertaking such projects, Fr Grech said he tasked a committee including a lawyer and a treasurer, to handle any funds...
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Government reconsiders plans to move migrants to Ħal Far

September 11, 2017, 12:11 am
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Plans to relocate migrants from Marsa open centre to Ħal Far have been put on hold, following complaints by Birżebbuġa residents that they were being scapegoated by the initiative.  In a statement issued this morning, the government announced that it was slamming the brakes on the plan until "a more equitable solution" which did not affect just one community was found. It however reiterated its electoral committment to close the Marsa centre.  Earlier this morning, Nationalist Party MP Hermann Schiavone said that he had written to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat urging him to reconsider the relocation plans. READ: Marsa open centre will soon close  In the letter, the fifth district MP called on Dr Muscat to apply burden sharing principles he preached to the EU right here in Malta and ensure migrants are not all lumped together in one area, a Nationalist Party MP has argued.  "I understand that irregular migration is a challenge and I don't want to turn the matter into a political football...after all these are people just like us," Dr Schiavone wrote, before going on to argue that it was not right "that this burden falls solely on the people of the fifth district, just as I do not...
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New rules to ensure fruit and veg hawkers more street-wise

September 10, 2017, 10:02 pm
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Updated 2.20pm Street vendors who set up stalls at busy junctions, selling fruit and vegetables exposed to fumes from cars zooming past, will be facing more stringent rules soon. The Environmental Health Directorate is drafting “sector specific” laws that better address health and safety issues involving street vendors. A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry told the Times of Malta that while street vendors were obliged by law to register as food handlers and undergo a course in food safety and hygiene, a new legal notice was being drafted to make the law more sector specific. The spokeswoman also pointed out that at present, street vending fell within the general requirements with respect to food production, processing, storing, distribution, transportation and presentation for sale as laid down in the Food Safety Act. The change in the law would include more specific rules for the different activities. The Times of Malta flagged the issue after the Commissioner for Environment and Planning David Pace, part of the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, highlighted the lack of control over the health risks of consuming food while dining al fresco. As outdoor cafes and...
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Fence reduces suicides at Mosta bridge

September 10, 2017, 9:40 pm
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The one-metre-high fence at the Mosta Bridge.

The number of deaths by suicide at the Mosta Bridge has been reduced drastically since a fence was installed there last year to prevent people from jumping. So far this year, there have only been two deaths reported from the bridge, in contrast to an average of nine a year over the previous years. Psychiatrist Mark Xuereb, who manages crisis teams that offer support to those contemplating suicide, said that the fence has proven its worth, with the number of cases down significantly. The structure was installed last October by the local council and was a project that had been in the pipeline for some time, as the number of deaths at the bridge kept rising. OPINION: Who truly cares about suicide? Initially, many argued that the fence would do little to discourage those contemplating suicide, especially since it is only a metre high. But Dr Xuereb said the drop in numbers was proof that such measures did work to discourage people from ending their lives. He commended the Mosta council for being the first to take such an initiative. While it was a step forward, he added, it did not mean that efforts to address the issue should stop there. “Any able-bodied person can climb over the...
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Valletta statues dressed in life jackets as part of guerilla protest

September 12, 2017, 12:02 am
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Eight Valletta statues woke up wearing life jackets this morning as part of a protest against EU inaction to end migrant deaths in the Mediterranean sea.  Statues of Jean de Valette, Queen Victoria, a Sette Giugno monument and Antonio Sciortino's Les Gavroches are among the iconic memorials sporting the bright orange vests, which all have the number '14500' written on them.  14,500 is the number of people believed to have drowned while trying to cross the central Mediterranean since 2014. The International Organization for Migration estimates that half that number - 7,495 - drowned last year alone.  Aside from the eight statues, young activists behind the protest have also placed life jackets on two Valletta memorials.  "We call on the Maltese government to stop the dying," said 26-year-old University of Malta student Jessie Seal. "We cannot stop the movement of people by allowing their deaths."  Ms Seal, an education policy student and avid sailor who has taken part in various Mediterranean rescue missions, expressed outrage at the way in which many migrant deaths were swept under the carpet.  "Why is it that we remember the names of 12 European men drowned in Tunis Bay in...
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Dramatic moments as Maltese boy is rescued after falling down well in Sicily

September 11, 2017, 8:55 am
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A tragedy was averted late yesterday when a Maltese man rescued his young son after he fell down a well in Ragusa, Sicily. Italian media reported that the incident happened at about 8.30pm at Punta Braccetto near Ragusa. The boy, 10, had been playing in a field while his father enjoyed a drink at a nearby bar when he fell down a well from a height of about six metres. The well had apparently not been covered. Other children heard his cries for help and his father rushed to the scene and climbed down the well, assisted by the bar owner. The boy did not suffer serious injuries but is being kept in hospital in Sicily for observation. The police are investigating. The boy and his parents were in Sicily on holiday. 
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Director, accountant defraud Transport Malta in road works billing

September 11, 2017, 6:29 am
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A company director and his accounts clerk who bribed a Transport Malta architect to inflate bill of quantities related to road works have been handed suspended jail sentences and fined €140,000.  George Oliver Schembri, 55, from Birżebbuġa and a director of Alfred Schembri and Sons Limited and accounts clerk Donald Camilleri, 42, from Tarxien, were found guilty of obtaining money or property on false pretences, defrauding Transport Malta,  making false declarations and money laundering. The accused had worked in tandem with Gordon Zammit, an architect employed by Transport Malta who was bribed to inflate bills of quantities issued by the roadworks contracting company Alfred Schembri and Sons. The difference was them split between Mr Schembri and the Transport Authority official. READ: Contractor claims TM architect pocketed the money Magistrate Joseph Mifsud in handing down judgement said that corruption was an insidious plague that had a wide range of corrosive effects on society. It undermined democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorted markets, eroded the quality of life and allowed organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human...
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Judge puts off Panama Papers appeal hearing

September 11, 2017, 1:40 am
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Updated 2.20pm - Added PL statement  Judge Antonio Mizzi has put off a decision as to whether a Panama Papers-related appeal should be heard in open court by one week, after plaintiffs including the Prime Minister said they needed one more week to prepare their arguments.   The case concerns appeals filed by Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and four others against a magistrate's decision to investigate whether they broke money-laundering laws.   Aside from Dr Muscat, Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri, appeals were also filed by Nexia BT's Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, as well as Malcolm Scerri and Adrian Hillman.  In a brief statement outside the law courts, PN MP and lawyer Jason Azzopardi told reporters that a decision as to whether the hearings should be held in open court will now be delivered next week.   The sitting will take place at 9am on Monday, September 18.  Aside from ruling on whether the hearings should be open to the public, Mr Justice Mizzi was also due to hear counter-arguments concerning a challenge against him filed by Nationalist Party lawyers.  The PN has argued that judge Mizzi's marriage to Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi made him unfit to hear the case. PN...
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Watch: Reckless overtaking costs cab driver his job

September 11, 2017, 9:56 am
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A man's career as a cab driver has been cut short after he was caught on camera overtaking a series of cars while driving up the opposing lane of traffic.  Dashcam footage sent to Times of Malta shows a line of cars pull up at traffic lights on Triq il-Mina ta' Hompesch, Żabbar last Saturday.  A dark grey Taxify cab suddenly appears, speeding along the opposite lane of traffic and crossing a double line marking the process.  "When he began the manoeuvre the lights were still red," the Times of Malta reader who sent in the footage said. "They only changed to green just before he reached the crossing while on the wrong side of the road." WATCH: With taxi drivers like this, maybe it's best to walk "Surely we should expect must higher driving standards from the very people we trust with our safety?" he asked.   Taxify agreed.  "We were seriously taken aback to see such footage but glad that it has been brought to our attention," a company spokesman told Times of Malta after being sent a copy of the footage.  "We can confirm that this is a Taxify vehicle and, given the evidence provided, the driver will be dismissed with immediate effect."  All Taxify drivers undergo in-house...
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‘Being a transgender person is not a choice you make’

September 11, 2017, 8:43 am
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A person can nowadays change name and gender, but the lack of awareness and provision of specific health services is detrimental to transgender people’s well-being, according to research conducted by Bruno Zahra. The first of its sort locally, Mr Zahra’s master’s study shows that a lack of support has seen transgender women “come out twice” – first as gay men and then as transgender people. The study also shows that such a lack of support can sever the transgender women’s ties with their own families. Rose*, one of the four research participants, explains: “You cannot have a decent coming out. “The moment you start understanding yourself and realise you are different from most people, there is no one to turn to. You are on your own.” The 35-year-old, who has undergone gender reassignment, confirmed that transgender people were suddenly recognised by law, but the health and education process had been overlooked. Her comments come three weeks after the government told this newspaper it was planning to introduce free gender reassignment treatment “without delay”. Equality Minister Helena Dalli was reacting to an article about the national equality commission’s call for a plan...
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Four dangerous toys withdrawn from market

September 12, 2017, 3:26 am
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Four toys with small detachable parts which pose a danger to young children have been taken off the market. An elastic puffer caterpillar, elastic ball, elastic puffer ball and green and purple foam ball are all dangerous, officials from the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority's market surveillance directorate have determined.  The first three toys contain small parts which can be easily detached and can also extend to dangerous lengths and be wrapped around the neck of a child. The fourth can be easily torn apart, with the risk of children swallowing pieces of foam.  Anyone who has bought any of these toys (details below) should immediately stop their children from using them and return them to the shop they bought them from.  EU law requires retailers to ensure that any products they put on the market comply with European safety laws.  For queries or further information, contact the MCCAA on 2395 2000 or info@mccaa.org.mt The four dangerous toys 1. Elastic “Puffer Caterpillar with Light” with model number TY3633. The eyes and the ball with light are two small parts among others, which can be easily detached from this toy. Besides, the head of this toy consists of...
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FIAU says Pilatus shortcomings ‘no longer subsist’

September 12, 2017, 7:51 am
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The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit informed Pilatus Bank shortcomings it had identified in terms of compliance with money laundering laws "no longer subsist". This emerges from a letter the FIAU sent to the Ta’ Xbiex-based bank last September and a copy of which has just been made available to this newspaper. The letter is dated September 26, 2016 and signed by the FIAU’s acting director. The director, Manfred Galdes, had resigned the month before, on August 1, and was succeeded by Kenneth Farrugia in February this year. FIAU officials, accompanied by representatives of the Malta Financial Services Authority, had carried out an on-site inspection of the bank in March 2016 to assess its compliance with prevention of money laundering and funding of terrorism regulations. According to an FIAU report that was later leaked and even posted on the internet, the officials had flagged up a number of “serious shortcomings”. These shortcomings were brought to the bank’s attention in a letter sent to it on May 17, 2016. The FIAU then reviewed representations made by the bank, “particularly that the relevant customer documentation was available at the bank”. The FIAU’s Compliance...
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Man accused of attempted armed hold-up is also awaiting trial for murder

September 12, 2017, 4:45 am
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A Libyan national, currently awaiting trial for the murder of Simon Grech in Marsa 12 years ago, has been released on bail after being arraigned today over an attempted hold-up which took place in Qormi last Sunday. Tripoli-born Ismael Habesh, 46, was arrested in a house in Targa Gap, Mosta, hours after Sunday's incident, in which two armed men allegedly stopped a car and demanded €20,000 from the driver. They left empty handed after the occupants of the car resisted and apparently identified one of the assailants. READ: Two arraigned over 2005 murder This morning the Libyan man, whose criminal record shows a number of past convictions for theft and slight bodily harm, was arraigned on charges of aggravated theft, carrying a weapon, being in possession of firearms in public without the necessary licence and breaching the peace. He was also charged with breaching earlier bail conditions besides being a relapser. After pleading not guilty to the charges, the man’s defence lawyers requested bail, pointing out that the charges gave the impression that the crime was more serious than it actually was. READ: They were drenched in blood, prostitute tells court The prosecution argued...
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European Parliament backs Busuttil's nomination to EU panel - Sant does not vote

September 12, 2017, 4:07 am
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Updated 4.24pm Simon Busuttil's nomination to join an EU panel tasked with scrutinising European Court of Justice nominees has been approved by the European Parliament.  In a vote held this morning, the EP plenary voted in favour of Dr Busuttil's nomination by a margin of 556 to 82. 35 MEPs abstained.  On Sunday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made it a point to say that Labour Party MEPs would be backing Dr Busuttil's nomination.  However the PN observed today that MEP Alfred Sant did not vote this morning, despite being present for the sitting.  Former MEP and outgoing Nationalist Party leader Dr Busuttil will keep his seat in Malta's parliament, with the panel only taking up a small portion of his time. He will serve as the EP's representative on the panel, replacing Italian Luigi Berlinguer. In his first comments following the vote, Dr Busuttil thanked the EP for its confidence in him. "I pledge to perform my duties to the best of my abilities, as I have done in every public post I have occupied," he said. 
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Pjazza Teatru Rjal manager pocketed ticket money

September 12, 2017, 4:59 am
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A former general manager of Pjazza Teatru Rjal was conditionally discharged after having been declared guilty of misappropriating funds belonging to the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Jason Masini, 44, from Mosta, a former Mcast lecturer seconded in July 2013 as general manager responsible for events at PTR, was dismissed two years later on suspicions of misappropriation. In the course of the criminal action against the accused, a Magistrates’ Court heard how funds generated through ticket sales relative to theatrical events, had been transferred by Ticket Line company to a personal account of the accused. In August 2014, the general manager was furnished with a VAT number and instructed to deposit theatre funds in a separate account, thus keeping them distinct from his own. However, three particular bank movements roused the suspicions of his superiors, sparking off investigations into the manager’s handling of theatre funds. In December 2014, a part-payment for MCCA by the online ticketing agency, amounting to €8,000, was deposited into Mr Masini’s personal account, only to be withdrawn by the holder that same day. It was observed that another sum of €1,000 was...
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