Replying to legal opinion sent on the family's behalf by the law firm Bhatt Murphy, the government said the police could hardly be expected to give a running commentary of their investigations
from MaltaToday News https://ift.tt/2wsh2hp
via IFTTT
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Government tells Caruana Galizia family’s UK lawyers that legal opinion contains ‘incorrect information’
Government replies to lawyers at Bhatt Murphy on Caruana Galizia murder investigation
The Government, through the Attorney General, has given its first reaction to the letter sent to the Maltese High Commission in London on the 9th of August by British legal company Bhatt Murphy which complained about the way the investigation of Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder is being conducted and alleged that the Maltese Government is breaching the European Convention of Human Rights.
In an interim reply, the Government made it clear that it assumes its responsibilities as dictated by the European Convention of Human Rights with outright seriousness and assured Bhatt Murphy and the Caruana Galizia family of this.
The government expressed its disappointment at the fact that the legal opinion issued by this legal company included a number of false allegations, baseless insinuations, and incorrect information.
In its letter, the Maltese Government stressed that the magistrate who is leading the inquiry on the murder of Ms Caruana Galizia has absolute liberty to do and investigate all that is necessary without fear or favour in the carrying out of his duty.
The government emphasised that the judiciary in Malta is independent and this investigation has been given the most resources in Malta's law-enforcing history. Three suspects have already been brought to court accused of committing this crime and investigations as to who else was involved are ongoing.
The police force and the security services are dedicating significant resources to this case, however, one cannot expect these authorities to continously comment in public about their work.
The Maltese authorities are also collaborating closely with international authorities and, recently, Europol's Executive Director publicly clarified a statement issued by her predecessor about international cooperation in this investigation.
The government showed its disappointment with the fact that these British lawyers consider it to be the enemy of the Caruana Galizia family. The government has simply worked diligently with international partners in the law enforcement sector to ensure those responsible for this crime face justice.
It is rather natural to have an element of frustration at the fact that the investigation is taking its time. However, this is not abnormal in complicated investigations such as this.
The Government reserves the right to provide another reply to the letter of the British lawyers and stated that it was sending this interim reaction only because the lawyers insisted on having an immediate answer in August.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2N52E8e
via IFTTT
Transport Ministry carries out surfacing work on 33 rural roads
Last May saw the commencement of works on 33 rural roads around the country; roads which are used both by farmers and as secondary routes between localities. This project will lead to the rebuilding of more than 30 kilometres of roads.
This work, which was started by Transport Malta's Roads and Infrastructure Directorate and continued by Infrastructure Malta, is well underway. In fact, 15% of planned works were completed during the last months and weeks, including Triq ir-Remel in Żebbuġ, the road leading to St Peter's Pool in Marsaxlokk, an unnamed road in the area of Triq San Ġużepp in Żabbar, Trejqet Kostinjuż in Naxxar, the road in the San Niklaw area between Siġġiewi and Qrendi, and Triq il-Ġebel in Birzebbugia.
Work is currently underway on 10 additional kilometres, which include Triq Ħal Far and Triq Bengħajsa in Żurrieq, the road next to the Malta International Airport in the Safi area, Triq iż-Żinżell in Marsascala, Triq il-Kotob and Triq Santu Kristu in Żejtun, Triq l-Għarix and part of Triq San Niklaw in Qrendi, Triq iċ-Ċens l-Iswed and Triq Wied il-Bużbież in Mtaħleb, Triq il-Palma between Mellieħa and Mġarr, part of Triq Xrobb l-Għaġin between Żejtun and Marsaxlokk, as well as another rural road in the Żebbuġ area in Marsaxlokk as well.
The coming months will see the commencement of works on the remaining roads, so that the project may be completed by the middle of next year.
In every road being rebuilt, Infrastructure Malta is coordinating work with entities providing water, electrical and telecommunication services, so that necessary systems for the same area are placed before the laying of foundations and new asphalt. This reduces the risk of digging up these roads a short while after being rebuilt. Where necessary, storm water catchment and flood prevention systems are also being created. Some of these roads which wind among fields had not been repaired as necessary for decades. In fact, one of the challenges of the project is that some of them had never been given the necessary foundations to strengthen the road for the weight of vehicles.
Commenting on this work, Minister Borg said, "This is the way we will be working on our country's infrastructure; coordinated work between Infrastructure Malta, concerned entities and local councils, to ensure that our projects lead not only to improvements on road surfaces but also on both essential and ancillary services, so that each project will lead to holistic improvement. Work on rural roads is an essential investment for Maltese farmers, residents who use them as secondary routes, cyclists as well as anyone who walks and exercises along these beautiful roads. Infrastructural work has gained good momentum, and I look forward to more hard work so that we can improve the level of infrastructure of all our roads in a way which befits Maltese and Gozitan citizens."
This project on rural roads is taking place through an investment of around €11 million co-financed by the European Union. As part of the same project of the European Union's European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, funds were also allocated to several local councils for the rebuilding of 30 additional roads in the countryside which fall within their responsibility.
Apart from these projects, Infrastructure Malta is also carrying out other works financed by the government to improve more roads in the countryside so they can reach the necessary levels of quality for today's means of transport. In fact, 11 other roads have been rebuilt from scratch since the beginning of the year while work is still underway on another five; in total, 10 more kilometres of rural roads rebuilt from scratch in Żebbuġ, Siġġiewi, Baħrija, Rabat, Żejtun, Armier, Kunċizzjoni, Żurrieq and Mtaħleb. Similar works on rural roads in a number of other localities will be carried out in the coming months.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2wx5byF
via IFTTT
Commission non-committal as MEP asks passport selling-states to pay compensation
The European Commission did not rule out a proposal by a European parliamentarian to see the four EU member states that sell citizenship - Bulgaria, Malta, Portugal and Cyprus – to compensate the other 24 member states for selling something which belongs to them too.
French ENF MEP Dominique Martin has asked the European Commission to "take action and ask these four Member States to contribute towards the cost of accepting illegal immigrants or the fight against terrorism, as a way of legitimately compensating the other member states".
The parliamentary question, ominously titled, 'Terrorism and the sale of European citizenship', notes that, "Aside from the moral questions raised by the sale of EU citizenship, these countries are selling something which belongs to all of us and which they have no right to sell: namely the right to free movement in their fellow member states.
"On 2 April 2014, the Commission undertook to launch an investigation into the issue and to take action. Four years later, nothing had been done. And then the terrorists struck," Martin noted, referring to the terrorist attacks across Europe since.
EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová, in her reply, stressed, "Member states should use their prerogative to award citizenship in line with international and EC law and in a spirit of sincere cooperation with other member states.
"If one member state does not apply the necessary security and criminality checks, then this can indeed pose a risk for all member states. It is for member states to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to counteract security risks. They must also apply rigorous criteria to identify and combat criminality and corruption."
Martin noted how French media reports how Malta has sold 2,000 Cyprus is reported to have sold 11,000 and every year the four member states are said to earn US$3.5 billion from passport sales.
Jourová added, "In its 2017 Citizenship Report, the Commission set the priority of safeguarding the essence of EU citizenship and its inherent values.
"In the light of this it announced it would produce before end 2018 a report on national schemes granting EU citizenship to investors, describing the Commission's actions in this area, current national law and practices and providing some guidance for member states."
Jourová recently criticised the sale of passports to rich people from outside the bloc, and is urging them to do more to ensure that citizenship isn't given to criminals.
The Commission argues that citizenship should be awarded only in cases where there is a genuine link to the country concerned, but that decisions are a matter for individual countries.
Jourová was quoted as telling German daily Die Welt earlier this month that awarding citizenship can be a "serious security risk" because it confers rights including free movement inside the EU.
She said that "some countries must do more so that citizenship is not awarded to criminals who want to endanger Europe's security or engage in money-laundering."
Jourová said the Commission will examine each member country's practices in granting citizenship to people from outside the bloc. She said she has brought forward a report on the issue from December to this autumn.
After that, the EU is expected to issue new, tougher guidelines calling for member countries to guarantee that candidates for citizenship won't damage the bloc.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2ww4d5A
via IFTTT
Man charged with stealing car, handling stolen goods
A man from Xghajra was released on bail after he was arraigned before magistrate Monica Vella on charges relating to vehicular theft.
43 year-old John Mifsud, who is unemployed, was charged with the aggravated theft of a car and other objects, which charges were aggravated by value. He was also accused of handling stolen goods and relapsing.
The theft took place last Sunday in Triq Pinto in Qormi.
Mifsud pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer Noel Cutajar requested bail, which was granted against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €4000. The accused was ordered to observe a curfew and not to communicate with witnesses.
Inspector Roderick Agius prosecuted.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2N4Ohkl
via IFTTT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)