Update 1700
Health Ministry denies report of patient’s death in Mater Dei emergency corridor
The Health Ministry has categorically denied claims that a patient at Mater Dei died in the corridor of the hospital’s emergency department on Friday night. The allegation was made by Net News in an article published by the website on Saturday morning. (Times of Malta)
Updated 1130
Man jailed 20 years in satanic abuse case
A judge has found a man guilty of manipulating a vulnerable family into performing depraved sex acts by pretending to channel a demon, sentencing him to 20 years in jail and ordering that his name be listed in the sex offenders’ register. Maltatoday has an extensive summary of the trial and the sentence.
Man crashes into Wignacourt Aqueduct
A 45-year old man from Msida was slightly injured on Friday evening when the car he was driving crashed into the Mrieħel aqueduct. The accident occurred at around 10.30pm in Triq l-Imdina. The driver is being treated at Mater Dei hospital for the injuries sustained during the accident. (TVM)
BNF gets AML fine
BNF Bank has been slapped with a €190,000 fine by Malta’s Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) for failing to observe anti-money laundering requirements. In a 2020 inspection, the FIAU identified the failings, including the bank’s failure to observe its own risk assessment policies, as well as “genuine mistakes” in record keeping. BNF Bank said in a statement that most of the transgressions took place before 2015, and added that upon the acquisition by the current majority shareholder, “the bank embarked on a thorough and pro-active review of all its processes and controls specifically around its AML and CFT obligations.” (Newsbook)
Morning Briefing
Three former PN Ministers get Shadow portfolio
Three former PN stalwarts were brought back in the Opposition’s Shadow Cabinet after having being removed in a controversial reshuffle last year. Mario de Marco will be shadowing tourism, Chris Said has been made the spokesperson for quality of life while Carm Mifsud Bonnici was handed the constitutional reform portfolio. All PN MPs have been handed a portfolio. Albert Buttigieg, who was elected recently through a by-election has been appointed spokesperson for a better standard of living with a commitment against cost of living. (Times of Malta)
Ride-sharing company to shutdown operations
Cool, Malta’s first ridesharing company, has announced that it will be ceasing operations as of 27 January, citing that such services are not feasible without government support. The company, had sought join multiple passengers traveling to similar destinations in the same vehicle, offering a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and traffic-reducing alternative to single occupancy transportation. The company, of which Debono Group is a major shareholder lamented that its services will not be feasable without government policy incentives. (Maltatoday)
Stickers, not fines for wrong garbage bags
Residents who are not presenting the proper refuse bag under the new system introduced at the beginning of the new year will have stickers plastered on the wrong bags instead of being fined. Speaking on the national broadcaster, the Director General of the Cleansing Division, Ramon Deguara, said that this is part of an educational campaign being carried out by officials from four divisions to ensure that all will follow the new schedule.
