Five Farrugia Brothers Cleared in Enemalta Oil Scandal Case
Five Farrugia brothers have been acquitted of complicity in corruption after a court ruled they were victims, rather than accomplices, of an oil bribery scheme orchestrated by their brother, state witness George Farrugia. In a 76-page judgment, Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace found the prosecution had failed to prove that Raymond, Antonio, Salvu, Emanuel and Gaetano Farrugia knowingly participated in the corruption involving Enemalta and the Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Company. The court sharply criticised George Farrugia’s testimony, describing it as evasive and unsupported by independent evidence despite the presidential pardon granted to him in 2013. The case had been ongoing since 2015 and stemmed from allegations linked to oil supply contracts awarded in the mid-2000s. The judgment also lifted freezing orders imposed on the brothers’ assets more than a decade ago. Other major Enemalta oil scandal proceedings remain pending before the courts. (The Malta Independent)
Defence Suggests Political Motives Behind Murder
The defence in Yorgen Fenech’s trial continued its cross-examination of Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud by questioning the police investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Lawyers focused on missing electronic devices belonging to former chief of staff Keith Schembri, with Arnaud confirming that Schembri’s mobile phone and laptop were never recovered. The defence also examined meetings involving former senior officials, Melvin Theuma’s presidential pardon, and police decisions not to seize the phone of an Office of the Prime Minister security official. Arnaud maintained that investigators found no evidence that Theuma’s pardon had been obtained through improper means and insisted Schembri was not considered a suspect during the early stages of the inquiry. Defence lawyers also suggested investigators explored political motives behind the murder, including allegations involving former minister Chris Cardona, as the high-profile jury trial continued. (Maltatoday)
Jury Hears Hammer Attack Attempted Murder Case
A jury has begun hearing the case against 68-year-old Emanuel Borg, who is accused of attempting to murder his wife by repeatedly striking her with a hammer while she slept at their Mellieħa farmhouse in November 2019. Borg denies charges of attempted murder and causing grievous injuries that allegedly left his wife, Maria Dolores Borg, permanently disabled. The victim later died of natural causes unrelated to the injuries. Prosecutors told the court the couple’s marriage had been experiencing serious difficulties, with disputes arising over money and plans involving another person moving into the matrimonial home. On the day of the alleged attack, the woman had prepared food before returning home for an afternoon rest, when Borg is accused of attacking her. According to evidence presented, the victim has no memory of the assault. If convicted, Borg faces a substantial prison sentence under Malta’s Criminal Code. (Newsbook)
