Magistrate Nadine Lia removed from Pilatus case / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 19 October 2022

Updated 1230

Magistrate Nadine Lia removed from Pilatus case: After a lengthy Court battle, magistrate Nadine Lia has been removed from the Pilatus case. Speaking outside the courts, NGO Repubblika President Robert Aquilina said this is a “historic win”. The Constitutional Court gave its decision this morning following a request brought by the same NGO. (Times of Malta)

Inflation edges further up: Malta’s inflation rate continued to increase in September, NSO data has shown. The HICP rate has gone up to 7.4% from 7% in August, with the 12-month moving average rate now 4.8%. Food remains the largest contributed. According to Eurostat, Malta’s annual rate in September was the second lowest in the euro area, after that registered in France (6.2%). Eurozone inflation is on the verge of reaching double digit figures at 9.9%. (NSO)

2021 Ministers’ assets have not been published yet: The Nationalist Party has called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to publish his declaration of assets, and those of government ministers and parliamentary secretaries for the year 2021.The Opposition argued that “it is unacceptable that, when 2022 has almost passed, the prime minister has until now not presented his own declaration of assets, nor the ones of ministers and parliamentary secretaries in parliament, as he is obliged to do.” (The Malta Independent)

Morning Briefing

PM suggests honouring Arrigo on Republic Day

Prime Minister Robert Abela has proposed that Robert Arrigo be honoured posthumously on Republic Day in December. Addressing journalists, Abela described Arigo as a great contributor to sports, tourism and of course, to politics, in which he was able to communicate effectively and remain close to the people. “I know he was not fond of titles because we would frequently speak about this, but I will propose that he is decorated on Republic Day,” Abela said, while describing Arrigo as a long-time friend. Mr Arrigo passed away on Tuesday, aged 67, after a battle with cancer. (Times of Malta)

Court refuses request to remove Melvin Theuma’s evidence in phantom job case

The Court has rejected a request to remove Melvin Theuma’s evidence from the proceedings in the criminal proceedings against Keith Schembri and four other men in connection with a phanthom job allegedly given to the same Theuma. While lawyers defending the five men accused the prosecution of misleading the witness into testifying, lawyer Stefano Filletti insisted that in the absence of any physical evidence that Theuma’s Presidential pardon also extended to his involvement in the crimes with which the men were accused, Theuma had to be treated as a co-accused in these proceedings. (Maltatoday)

Court hears of alleged beatings by police officers on migrants

The case against three police officers were last week charged with kidnapping and assaulting foreign nationals, continued with harrowing details on the alleged beating of migrants. Sergeant Alexander Gauci, stationed at the Ħamrun police station, testified that fellow officers saw the accused pick up foreign national in Marsa and take him to a valley in a police car. Once there, the man was punched and kicked until he lost consciousness. Rica Mifsud Grech, 22, from Floriana, Jurgen Falzon, 24, from St Venera and 20-year-old Luca Brincat from Ħal Qormi, were arraigned to face charges relating to kidnapping, abuse of authority, illegal arrest, and holding a person against their will. (Newsbook)