Bill to widen judicial discretion on bail breaches exhibited as evidence in court
Lawyers for a man on bail for murder have pounced on an announcement made in court by the Attorney General that the wording of the law on bail breaches is to be changed
23 February 2021, 12:51pm
by Matthew Agius
Lawyers for a man on bail for murder have pounced on an announcement made in court by the Attorney General that the wording of the law on bail breaches is to be changed.
Franka Ahmed Rasem was accused of breaching his bail conditions in August last year, Franko had been released on bail in May 2018 after being charged with the murder of a Colombian man in Paceville in 2016.
A second attempt by the police to secure a conviction for a man caught with nearly 60 ecstasy pills outside a party venue in 2013 has hit a brick wall after a magistrate ruled that he could not be charged twice for the same offence.
The saga over the drug find began in 2013 when Andre Falzon, then a 22-year-old, was found in possession of 57 ecstasy pills during a party in Corradino. He was arraigned in September 2013 and following advice from his legal aid lawyer, admitted all charges.
He was sentenced to three years in jail plus a €1,000 fine.
A week into his prison term, his father sought the help of a new team of lawyers who spotted a mistake in the charge sheet. They went on to file an appeal arguing that he was charged with committing a crime on the night between August and 8 and 9, 2013, a month before the party was held.
The police have revoked bail granted last December to tax chief Marvin Gaerty, following his interrogation over chats with murder suspect Yorgen Fenech.
Gaerty’s lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia confirmed when contacted on Saturday that their client had been called by the Financial Crime Investigation Department and told there was no need to report at their offices for an appointment he had been given for Monday.
They confirmed that Gaerty, who has continued to perform his role of tax chief, was told that he was no longer on police bail although investigations were continuing.
The Inland Revenue Commissioner had been questioned by police on December 22 as part of an investigation into trading in influence involving the businessman who stands accused of conspiring to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Inland Revenue Commissioner Marvin Gaerty no longer on police bail
Gaerty had been interrogated by the police after mobile chats with Yorgen Fenech suggested trading in influence
20 February 2021, 2:15pm
by Matthew Agius
Inland Revenue Commissioner Marvin Gaerty is no longer on police bail, his lawyers have confirmed.
Gaerty had been released on police bail last December after being questioned by police over chats with Yorgen Fenech, as part of an investigation into trading in influence with Fenech, who stands accused of conspiracy to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Gaerty’s lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia confirmed with the MaltaToday that the tax chief had been interrogated by the Financial Crime Investigation Department and had been told that he had been released from police bail.
Fourth bail release for man charged with drug trafficking and money laundering
Qormi man, 35, released on fourth concurrent bail after being charged with buying black market ammunition
18 February 2021, 11:45am
by Matthew Agius
A 35-year-old Qormi man has been released on his fourth concurrent bail, this time after being charged with buying ammunition on the black market.
Terence Cini was arraigned yesterday before Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo accused of buying two boxes of handgun ammunition from another man in Qormi on 12 February, with a 47-year-old man residing in Bahar ic-Caghaq.
The other man, whose name is subject to a ban on publication, was arraigned on Monday before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras and had admitted to charges of having supplied the ammunition. He was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for a year.