Good morning
Your morning briefing newspaper review.
The Times says that a court of appeals overturned a magistrate’s decision to launch an investigation into allegations of graft following the Panama Papers leak. The recourse was made by former Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil but Judge Giovanni Grixti said on Tuesday that not enough evidence was presented to warrant an investigation.
Following the story, MaltaToday says that the ‘stunning decision’ has taken the government most senior officials off the hook. The case was opened in July 2017 when Magistrate Ian Farrugia decided there was enough grounds to merit an inquiry involving Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Minister Konrad Mizzi, Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and another four individuals.
L-Orizzont says that the Judge Giovanni Grixti told the Court that the allegations of money laundering in connection with the Panama Papers leads against seven individuals are ‘speculation’.
The Malta Independent reports on the plight of the crew and migrants aboard the Sea Eye vessel currently sheltering in Malta’s waters. The ship’s captain told the paper how they came across the 17 migrants in late December and decided to rescue them from an unstable boat.
MaltaToday leads with a court case against a 25-year-old man accused of repeatedly raping his under-age cousin. The victim, now 16, told the court that the abuse went on for seven years and that her cousin approached her once or twice a month.
The Times says that PN Leader Adrian Delia still has €64,000 in unpaid taxes. The paper quotes a party spokesperson who said that Delia could neither confirm nor deny the claim without first seeing the reported documents himself.
MaltaToday publishes an interview with the PN Leader who denies that he has ever offered his resignation. Delia said he does not see why anyone should ask for a vote of confidence because they’re going through separation proceedings.
L-Orizzont speaks to Graffitti member Andre Callus who said that the situation with the 49 migrants stranded at sea is unacceptable. The paper says that the government is in talks with the European Commission to find a solution.
In-Nazzjon leads with comments given by PN Leader Adrian Delia to an interview on Times Talk in which he said that the party needs to be united against the government’s corruption. Delia said his duty is to convince people of a new way, but there is no time left to waste before the elections.
L-Orizzont says that the Suicide Watch 10 launched over the festive period received an average six calls every day. Psychiatrist Mark Xuereb said most callers were from the East and North of the island.
In-Nazzjon reports that 40 NGOs have called a meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to appeal for the stranded migrants to be allowed to disembark in Malta. They were not received by the OPM but issued a joint statement declaring that human life is a higher priority than scoring political points.
