Court finds enough reasons for indictment

A magistrate yesterday ruled there were enough reasons for the indictment of two judges charged with bribery.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona gave the ruling after hearing the last prosecution witnesses in the compilation of evidence against former chief justice Noel Arrigo 52, of Siggiewi and Judge Patrick Vella, 58, of San Pawl tat-Targa.

They are pleading not guilty to two counts of bribery and one of revealing official secrets in connection with a judgment handed down by the Court of Criminal Appeal against drug trafficker Mario Camilleri on July 5.

The charges are aggravated by the fact that they were public officers duty bound to prevent crime.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona yesterday heard Anthony Grech Sant, Joseph Zammit, Mario Camilleri and his son Pierre take the witness stand and opt not to testify since there were separate criminal proceedings pending against them.

He also heard the evidence of a bank manager over a transaction in Judge Vella's account which took place on August 1.

Edwin Zammit confirmed that Judge Vella had requested the withdrawal of Lm5,000 by telephone and that he had eventually gone to collect the money.

Under cross-examination, the bank manager said he could not remember whether Judge Vella had ever explained to him that the Lm5,000 had originated from his inheritance.

The cases continues.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Deputy Commissioner Joseph Cachia, Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar and Superintendent Pierre Calleja are prosecuting.

Dr Joseph Giglio and Dr George Abela are representing Judge Arrigo while Dr Toni Abela, Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr George Cutajar are representing Judge Vella.