Updated
Malta’s extradition standards are more lenient then Italy’s – lawyers
Lawyers representing a man sought in Italy for drug trafficking charges have contended that Maltese authorities are applying a more lenient standard when evaluating extradition requests compared to their Italian counterparts. This assertion comes after a court in Catania recently rejected a request to extradite a man to Malta, citing inadequate information on the conditions in Maltese prisons, which failed to ensure protection from inhuman or degrading treatment. The defense for John Spiteri argued that such rigorous standards are not consistently upheld by Maltese authorities when they receive extradition requests from other countries. The lawyers argue that Maltese authorities tend to expedite such requests even when foreign counterparts provide minimal information regarding prison conditions in their respective countries. (Times of Malta)
Women dies after stairs fall
The 72-year-old elderly woman who suffered a fall down the stairs at her residence in Qormi has passed away. The incident occurred on 9th July at approximately 10:30 pm in Valletta. While walking down the stairs, she unfortunately tripped and fell. Prompt medical assistance was provided by paramedics, who then transported her to Mater Dei for treatment. Tragically, she was diagnosed with severe injuries and succumbed to her injuries a few hours ago. (TVM)
Sofia vote shows lack of transparency and accountability – mother of victim
Isabelle Bonnici, the mother of Jean Paul Sofia, expressed her disappointment with the vote that rejected the Opposition’s motion for a public inquiry into her son’s death. In her interview with Andrew Azzopardi on Radio 103 on Saturday morning, she emphasized that this decision goes against the principles of transparency, accountability, and the acknowledgement of responsibility. The family firmly believes in the necessity of a public inquiry in the case. The interview was conducted following the parliament’s vote against the motion for a public inquiry. (Newsbook)
Morning Briefing
Heatwave greets Maltese weekend
A heatwave will be hitting the Maltese Islands between today and Wednesday, according to the Meteorological Office. “With the daily maximum temperatures from Saturday until at least Wednesday expected to be 37°C or more, a heatwave is expected,” a Met Office spokesperson said. The temperature is expected to feel a couple of degrees higher, and by Tuesday it will feel like 40°C. In a separate statement, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate said that with temperatures set to rise, avoiding dehydration was important to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke. (Times of Malta)
Court deems another FIAU fine as unconstitutional
The FIAU has lost another constitutional case, with a judge ruling that the laws governing administrative fines imposed by the country’s financial crime watchdog violate fundamental rights. The decision was made by Madam Justice Joanne Vella Cuschieri in the Constitutional jurisdiction of the First Hall of the Civil Court. The case was brought forward by XNT Ltd, a financial services and investment services provider previously known as Exante. The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) had imposed a fine of €244,679 on the company for various non-compliance issues related to money laundering prevention regulations. The company received the fine in June 2022 through a letter and was given a 20-day deadline to pay the substantial administrative fine. (Maltatoday)
995,000 tourists visit Malta between January and May
The latest statistics related to tourism remain positive, as May recorded one of the highest numbers of arrivals on record. According to data from the National Statistics Office, nearly 285,000 tourists visited Malta in May alone. When comparing to May of the previous year, tourist arrivals have surged by 28.8%. Furthermore, when compared to May 2019, which was a year before the pandemic, there has been a notable increase of over 7.2% in tourist arrivals. Almost 995,000 tourists visited Malta between January and May. (TVM)
