Updated 1600
The Times of Malta reveals that Europol officials appointed as experts in criminal proceedings before the Maltese courts were subject “solely and exclusively” to Maltese law and procedure, a Magistrate declared on Monday, insisting that they required no “ulterior authorisation” from any foreign body.
Maltatoday says that a study has shown that the economic share of construction and real estate has diminished over two decades but they remain significant contributors to other sectors.
Newsbook reports that Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti has recused himself from Yorgen Fenech’s constitutional appeal over the rejection of his request for the removal of the judge who will preside over his trial by jury.
TVM shares the details concerning a Court sentence whereby four men were fined €1,629,278 between them after finding them guilty of tax evasion in four separate sentences.
Updated 1215
Contractor jailed over death of women released from prison
A contractor has been released from jail on a judge’s orders until the hearing of a constitutional case in which he claims that his imprisonment was in breach of his rights. Paul Demicoli was one of two men jailed for having caused the death of two women through negligence when a building in St Paul’s Bay collapsed during excavations on an adjoining plot almost twenty years ago. Demicoli had originally been condemned to a three-year jail term in 2009 but had the sentence reduced to two years on appeal last November. Demicoli told Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale, presiding over the First Hall of the Civil Courts in its constitutional jurisdiction that he considered it “disgraceful and shameful” that his criminal case took 18 years to be decided and he was still condemned to an effective jail term. (Times of Malta)
640 young people left Malta in 2021
640 individuals aged between 15 and 29 emigrated out of Malta in 2021. In total, 1,929 individuals emigrated out of Malta in 2021, of whom 1,076 were men, the rest were females. The numbers are estimates based on a mathematical model, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana told Parliament, adding that the National Statistics Office would not be know why the individuals emigrated. (Newsbook)
Man arrested after heroin airport haul
A 43-year-old man was arrested at Malta International Airport after being found in possession of around four kilos of a substance suspected to be heroin.
Police said that the man of Polish nationality was detained by police after arriving in Malta on a flight from Frankfurt, Germany. Following his arrest, police discovered a package containing the substance in a false bottom of the man’s suitcase. (Maltatoday)
Morning Briefing
Crowds flock to Valletta, Nadur for Carnival celebrations
Beautiful weather on Sunday favoured Carnival goers as revellers took to the streets of Valletta in their thousand, the first fully-fledged such event since 2019. In parallel, reports indicate that over 25,000 made the trip to Gozo to visit the Nadur carnival. (TVM)
Revenge disrupts peace – Archbishop
Retribution and revenge may give people momentary satisfaction but at the the end they disrupt peace which is priceless, Archbishop Charles Scicluna warned on Sunday. During a mass celebrated at the Oratory of the Confraternity of Charity in Valletta, Archbishop Scicluna said that the thought of vengeance might seem attractive, (but) it does leave a bad taste,”Peace has no price. It might give you satisfaction. But if your actions steal your peace, is it worthwhile?” the Archbishop asked. (Newsbook)
Ian Borg partipates at Munich Security Conference
Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg is participating in the Munich Security Conference, in which various European leaders are attending in order to discuss the latest developments on security and international peace. In the margins of this conference, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg had a number of bilateral meetings with the aim of strengthening our country’s international relations. (DOI)
