Weekly News highlights

Ten people were arrested last weekend in an operation that yielded over 100 Ecstasy pills and some cannabis resin.

Seven charged with attacking police officers

Four men and three women on Tuesday were charged with threatening, assaulting and slightly injuring five police officers in St Julian's last Sunday.

Matthew Busuttil, 24, of Ghaxaq, Jurgen Cumbo, 26, of Zejtun, Paul Farrugia, 21, of Qormi, and Roger Spagnol, 37, of Zabbar were charged with trying to seriously injure a police inspector, a sergeant and three constables and provoking them. They were also charged with assaulting three security guards at Red Square Place earlier that day.

The three women, Spagnol's 33-year-old wife Monica, Elaine Aquilina, 19, of Xghajra, and Fiona Grech, 26, of Zabbar, were granted bail on condition they do not approach Paceville and against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000 each.

The seven pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against them. The four men were remanded in custody after Magistrate Michael Mallia noted the serious nature of their charges.

Three involved in fight jailed

Three men, Keith Caruana, Anthony Joseph Portelli, and David Calleja, who last Friday week were found guilty of involvement in a fight in which two people were injured, were sentenced to jail terms on Tuesday, ranging from three months to a year.

Caruana was jailed for a year after jurors found him not guilty of the attempted murder of Emanuel Farrugia but guilty of slightly injuring him with a pointed instrument on March 11, 2001.

Portelli was jailed for eight months after being found guilty of involvement in a fight in which Cardona suffered serious injuries and of slightly injuring Farrugia.

Calleja was jailed for three months after jurors found him guilty of slightly injuring Cardona, but cleared him of seriously injuring him.

A fourth co-accused, Godwin Vella, 31, was cleared of all charges brought against him when jurors found him not guilty of injuring Farrugia.

Child pornography charge

A Madliena man was charged with the possession of child pornography. The 26-year-old man, whose name was not published by court order, pleaded not guilty.

12,000 counterfeit tracksuits seized

A total of 12,000 counterfeit Nike tracksuits were discovered in a 40-foot container by the Customs Department on Tuesday.

The merchandise also included about 20,000 pyjamas and two treadmills.

The container at the Freeport in Kalafrana was offloaded from the vessel Mercure. According to the bill of lading, the goods left the Far East and were destined for Morocco.

30-year jail term confirmed

An appeal court on Wednesday confirmed a 30-year jail term handed down to Dominic Bonnici, 44, who admitted murdering an elderly couple in their Sta Lucija home on Febuary 10, 2000.

Teenagers face multiple rape charges

Thirteen boys and a girl, aged between 15 and 20, were charged with defiling 16 minors and eight of the boys, all teenagers, were also charged with raping five of the minors on several, separate occasions.

All defendants, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against them, were charged with defiling the 16 girls, violent indecent assault and holding them against their will.

They were also charged with offending public morals, exposing themselves in public and extortion. The 16-year-old girl was charged with threatening two of the minors over the phone, showing them pornographic films, the possession of the pornographic material and circulating it.

Eight of the boys were charged with raping five of the victims, one of whom had a disability. The charges list 15 episodes of rape, on seven separate occasions, on the same five girls. Two of the boys were also charged with trying to seriously injure two girls by putting a lit cigarette in the eye of one of them and by hurling a glass in the other's direction.

Lm153,000 claim against football club

JG Management Consultancy Ltd on Thursday filed a writ of summons in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Marsa Football Club, claiming payment of over Lm153,000.

The company, represented by Joseph Gauci, former president of the club, requested the court to condemn the club to pay it the amount lent to the club over a period of time.

No-confidence motion defeated

An opposition motion of no confidence in the government over its handling of the Mater Dei Hospital project was defeated in Parliament on Thursday.

The House instead approved an amended version moved by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi congratulating the government over its latest agreement with Skanska and urging it to ensure that the hospital was completed according to the agreed terms.

The motion as amended by Dr Gonzi was approved with 31 votes in favour and 27 against and the original motion by Dr Sant was defeated by the same margin.

Farmers awarded over Lm7,000

The St Catherine Band Club of Zurrieq was ordered by Mr Justice Gino Camilleri, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, to pay Lm7,396 in damages to two farmers after a number of vines were damaged by fireworks.