Weekly News highlights

Malta shipyards were awarded a Lm3 million contract to upgrade the Ikdam, a former tanker which the yard had converted into a floating production, storage and offloading facility in 2001.

The announcement comes right after the news a couple of weeks ago that the yard had landed a Lm7 million contract to convert a Dutch heavy lift barge.

The Ikdam is returning to Malta in May for upgrading of its process facilities, drydocking and ship reclassification works. Malta Shipyards is responsible for design engineering works, procurement, construction and commissioning. The work is to be completed in August.

Escaped immigrants caught

Two of the three illegal immigrants who were still on the run following a mass breakout from the Floriana detention centre last Friday have been caught, sources said on Sunday.

Around 90 immigrants broke out of the centre last Friday week at around noon in protest at their lengthy detention but all except three had been rounded up by the evening.

Sources said on Sunday that one of the immigrants turned himself in at police headquarters while another was picked up in Mosta. The police are still searching for the last escapee.

Found dead in car

Christian Gauci, 24, was found dead in his BMW late on Sunday night in his hometown, Zurrieq.

Sources said the police suspect that Gauci died of a drug overdose and they were questioning a number of people. The police also believe that Gauci did not drive the car himself but was driven and left there in the hope that someone would notice him and call an ambulance or the police.

Toxicological tests are being carried out on Gauci's body to determine whether the use of illicit drugs was involved.

An autopsy confirmed he had died of a pulmonary oedema caused by heart failure.

Malta, Bulgaria co-operation agreement

Malta and Bulgaria are to sign a co-operation agreement similar to the one signed between Malta and Croatia earlier last month, to strengthen ties in tourism, trade and to combat human trafficking.

Ivailo Georgiev Kalfin, the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, was in Malta on Monday for talks with Foreign Minister Michael Frendo.

A co-operation agreement between Malta's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies and the Sofia Diplomatic Academy is also expected to be signed.

Social security spending up by Lm13.4 million

Total expenditure on social security benefits during last year rose by Lm13.4 million or 6.5 per cent over 2004, the National Statistics Office said on Monday.

Last year's expenditure was Lm220.8 million, equivalent to 11.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (2004: 11.3 per cent).

Jailed for corrupting 12-year-old girl

Carmel Camilleri, 55, of Zabbar, on Monday was sentenced to two years' jail after being convicted of corrupting a 12-year-old girl in July 2003.

The court noted that, although the man was encouraged by the victim, he should have known better how to behave with a minor.

Elderly woman robbed of Lm2,000

Two men on Tuesday broke into the Qormi home of an 82-year-old woman and stole around Lm2,000. The police said the woman was slightly injured in the robbery, which took place at about 1 p.m.

Jailed, fined for cannabis possession

Silvio Camilleri, 28, of Gzira, on Tuesday was jailed for six months and fined Lm200 for the possession of half a kilo of cannabis and relapsing. Elton Brincat, 22, of Hamrun, was put on probation and fined the same amount for the possession of the same drug.

The two men had been arrested during a police raid in a Birkirkara garage on May 16, 2003.

Malta adopts Birds Directive

The government on Wednesday adopted the European Union's Birds Directive, which places a broad requirement on member states to take the necessary measures to maintain the populations of all wild birds at levels determined by ecological, scientific and cultural needs.

Since Malta negotiated the option to request an exemption from the Birds Directive for the hunting of quail and turtledove in spring until 2008, this does not mean that the practice will now stop.

But Government must now make its case for the derogation to the European Commission on the basis of the provisions contained within the directive.

The current hunting season, which opened amid recent controversy due to fears of bird flu and runs till May 22, is not affected. According to the new regulations, the Ornis committee, a consultative body on hunting, which includes representatives from hunters and conservationists, will make recommendations to the Rural Affairs Minister on the seasons during which hunting may be allowed. This recommendation must be made at least six weeks before a season is due to open.

12 years for drug pusher

Jason Zammit, 30, of Pietà, on Wednesday was jailed for 12 years and fined Lm12,000 after admitting to trafficking in heroin and cocaine over three years.

Zammit pleaded guilty to trafficking in the drugs and relapsing at what was to be the beginning of his trial by jury.

Exports up 22 per cent

Parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech told Parliament on Wednesday that exports in January were up by Lm13 million, or 22 per cent, over January last year, confirming that the pick-up in economic activity witnessed in the second half of last year was continuing.

Mr Fenech was speaking during the debate on a Bill to amend the Employment and Training Services Act.

Mintoff loses constitutional case over utility bills

Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia on Wednesday dismissed a constitutional application filed by former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Dom Mintoff and his daughters because they had failed to use the ordinary remedies available to them at law.

The judgment was delivered in the case filed by the Mintoff family against the Water Services Corporation, Enemalta Corporation, the minister responsible for investments, industry and information technology and the Attorney-General.

Mr Mintoff and his daughters Jana Mintoff Bland and Anne McKenna Mintoff claimed that their fundamental human rights had been violated when the water and electricity services to their property in Tarxien had been suspended.

However, the court ruled that the Mintoffs had not paid their water and electricity bills for years, and had not contested the bills as issued by the WSC. Nor had they replied to the letters sent to them by the corporation.

Brothers charged with steak knives attack

Two Cospicua brothers on Wednesday were charged with assaulting a man with steak knives and injuring him near their home on Tuesday afternoon.

Giovanni Spiteri, 23, and Manuel Spiteri, 18, admitted to injuring John Mifsud with knives and holding him against his will at Fuq Verdala in Cospicua.

Manuel Spiteri was also charged with driving a car into a neighbour's gate and parapet, driving dangerously and speeding.

Giovanni Spiteri, who was also charged with relapsing, was granted bail against a Lm200 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm2,500; his brother was granted bail against a Lm100 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

Man dies, another critical after fall

Nazzareno Sciberras, 49, of Zejtun, died on Wednesday morning after he was hit by a falling winch and pieces of metal, and a Kalkara worker, aged 54, is critical after falling off scaffolding early in the afternoon.

The first accident happened on a construction site in Birkirkara at about 8.30 a.m. The winch and the metal parts fell a height of about a storey.

The victim was rushed to St Luke's Hospital suffering from serious injuries. He was certified as being in a critical condition on admission but later succumbed to his injuries. The Kalkara man fell off scaffolding while working at Mater Dei Hospital, Tal-Qroqq, at about 1.30 p.m.

Zebbug council ordered to pay over Lm2,400

Zebbug council on Thursday was ordered to pay over Lm2,400 in reimbursement of expenses to its counterpart in Siggiewi.

Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, heard that the Siggiewi council had publicly campaigned against the construction of a cement plant in its locality. Four other local councils - those of Luqa, Qormi, Mqabba and Zebbug - had agreed to join in a common publicity campaign as their localities would also be adversely affected by the plant.

The five local councils had decided to share the expenses incurred in the campaign, which were estimated at Lm7,412.

Domestic Violence Commission launched

The Commission on Domestic Violence, which will advise the minister and draw up strategies to fight the problem, and offer better protection to victims, was launched by Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina on Thursday.

The commission will be obliged to publish a report by March 31 each year.

Ms Cristina said the commission was a step towards the full implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, which came into force on February 28.

The commission is chaired by Dr Miriam Camilleri and includes Maria Attard, Albert Bell, Sr Joan Garner, Dr Roberta Lepre, Nelio Mulvaney, Marcelline Naudi, Police Inspector Sharon Tanti, and Doris Vassallo, secretary.

Accused of stealing antiques

Paul Spagnol, 38, of San Gwann, on Friday was charged with stealing paintings and antique furniture, valued at over Lm200,000, from different places between May last year and March this year, and hoarding them.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar heard Spagnol plead not guilty to breaking into and damaging other persons' property, buying or keeping a number of stolen items inside a garage in Msida and being in possession of firearms, including a sawn-off shotgun, without a licence, and of relapsing.

Spagnol was remanded in custody after the court turned down a request for bail by defence counsel Franco Debono.