Updated: PL deputy leader denies putting pressure on police officer

Labour Party deputy leader Toni Abela this afternoon denied putting pressure on a police officer, as claimed in court earlier in the day. Richard Vella, of Attard, this morning claimed that Dr Abela had put pressure on the police not to arraign him and local councillor John Bonnici, with whom he had been involved in a fight, because the case would attract a lot of media attention. Mr Vella used to run the Attard's Labour Party bar. His lawyer Edward Gatt this morning read out his client’s statement to the police in which his client made the allegations about Dr Abela. Mr Vella had told the police Dr Abela had put pressure on a police officer, a Labour supporter, not to arraign Mr Vella and Mr Bonnici for the time being as the case would attract a lot of media attention. Both men were arraigned several months later. Mr Vella had told the police that Dr Abela had sent him a letter telling him he was no longer a member of the committee and could not enter the club. The other members of the committee then went to Dr Abela to vouch for Mr Vella. During the meeting, Dr Abela had claimed he had gone to the police station, found a policeman who was a Labourite and told him not to proceed...