Three accused in bribery case argue for release

Businessman Anthony Grech Sant yesterday claimed the police had arrested him just before his arraignment to make a public spectacle out of him and not because his arrest was required to guarantee his appearance in court.

And Mario Camilleri, 40, and his son Pierre, 20, accused, with Grech Sant, 55, and Joseph Zammit, 57, of trading in influence and aiding and abetting in the bribery of two judges, claimed their arrest was illegal and requested their unconditional release.

Grech Sant replied to the Attorney General's reply to his second request for bail and claimed that he had always been aware that the police were going to arraign him in court and his lawyer had in fact repeatedly asked police for the date although they were not forthcoming.

He said he had had five days between arrests to escape had he wanted to, or to speak to people knowing full well that he was going to be arraigned in court.

Grech Sant claimed his arrest was not justified in the circumstances, particularly in the light of case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Meanwhile, the Camilleris filed an application requesting their unconditional release and making it clear they were not requesting bail because their continued arrest was now illegal.

They argued that the court had denied them bail for reasons which were not valid according to the law because the only thing the relevant section of the law stipulated was a guarantee that they appear in court when summoned.

The Camilleris argued that the law did not make any reference to the fear of escape, tampering with evidence or the nature and seriousness of the charges they faced.

This made their continued arrest illegal.

Dr Joseph Brincat is counsel to Grech Sant while Dr Franco Debono is assisting the Camilleris.