Your evening roundup with news from Malta’s portals follows.
Four people have been arrested for attempting to set a pick-up on fire in Selmun and driving off.TVM reports that the owner of the pick-up witnessed the attack from his home and immediately called the police, who chased the band until they were stopped in Wardija. LovinMalta says that the getaway car was reported stolen on January 12 and carried number plates lifted from yet another car.
The court has rejected a request by PN MP Simon Busuttil and MEP David Casa to reopen an inquiry into Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri. One News quotes Magistrate Francesco Depasquale who dismissed claims by the politicians that court decree is in legal and judicial limbo. According to The Malta Independent, Simon Busuttil said he respects the decision but vows to continue ‘knocking on the door’ of justice.
The Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal ruled that the Data Commissioner has the right to view contracts of government consultants. The Times says that the decision turned down Minister Chris Cardona’s attempt to block the Data Commission from accessing contract details of consultants engaged by the ministry.
Malta dropped five places on the Corruption Index issued by Transparency International. Net Newssays that the country now ranks 51st, its lowest point since entering the Index in 2004, and stands below the EU average.
Finance Minister Edward Scicluna participated in an event held by Henley & Partners on the sides of the World Economic Forum, launching a concept promoting ‘sovereign equality’. The Shift Newsquotes the minister who praised the effects of the citizenship programme on Malta’s economic performance.
Newsbook says that Air Malta employees received €400 in December as compensation for parking charges when they have free parking by the airport. The General Workers Union told the portal that airlines pay the airport to provide free parking for their employees.
A man has been charged in connection with the 2017 robbery of Diamonds International jewellery at Tigné Point. MaltaToday says that investigators identified 27-year-old Begtash Muka from Albania after analysis of DNA lifted from the site of the crime.
