Two back in court

A Bosnian and a Croat who had been cleared of their involvement in the mayhem during the Malta-Croatia World Cup qualifier last month, will be back in court to face judgement this afternoon after the Attorney General had filed a warrant of arrest contesting their acquittal.

On September 27 Magistrate Giovanni Grixti cleared Bosnian Edis Zjajo and Croatian Goran Vete of all charges as he ruled that the case had not been proven to the prima facie level required by law.

This ruling meant that the two men were cleared of their involvement in the mayhem that broke out at the National Stadium on September 7.

Two weeks later, on October 11, the Attorney General issued a warrant of arrest against the two men for the criminal proceedings to continue despite the Magistrates' Court's decision.

According to the powers conferred to him, the Attorney General issued the warrant as he was of the opinion that there were sufficient grounds for Mr Zjajo and Mr Vete to be indicted.

This meant that the proceedings against Mr Zjajo and Mr Vete were to continue, as though the magistrate had moved on to decide for their indictment.

Consequently the case was sent back before Magistrate Grixti who, as allowed by law, abstained from taking further cognisance of the case - which was then appointed to be continued before Magistrate Saviour Demicoli.

Magistrate Demicoli upheld a request to grant the two men bail after hearing that they had been in Malta ever since their arrest on September 7.

The magistrate then put off the case to today for judgement.

Police Inspectors Silvio Valletta and Jeffrey Cilia are prosecuting.

Lawyers Malcolm Mifsud and Cedric Mifsud are appearing for the two men.