Weekly News highlights

Eleven-Year-Old Glen Caruana, who was badly burnt when shredded paper caught fire and set his clothes alight in Siggiewi on Sunday, suffered 60 per cent burns to his upper body and was still in critical condition on Monday.

A constable, the boy's mother and his three-year-old sister were also injured in the incident.

It is thought that some boys may have thrown a firecracker, igniting the fire.

Police superintendent accused of taking bribes

Police Superintendent Patrick Spiteri, 49, of Fgura, on Monday was charged in court with accepting bribes to exercise his influence on decisions taken by the police over the past six years.

He pleaded not guilty.

Mr Spiteri, who has now resigned from the force, also pleaded not guilty to complicity in clandestine lotto, stealing a shotgun from the Valletta police station and committing crimes he was in duty bound to prevent.

Alleged killer 'tried to leave Malta'

David Norbert Schembri, 30, of Sliema, undergoing murder proceedings for stabbing his former partner, 32-year-old Josette Scicluna, was charged last Monday with conspiring to escape from Malta.

Schembri, who allegedly tried to escape when he was meant to be at home as part of his bail conditions in the murder case, pleaded not guilty.

Schembri is charged with stabbing the mother of his daughter 49 times in her San Gwann apartment on May 3, 2004.

Mass breakout by immigrants

Security Forces faced the worst immigrant situation since the Safi riots last year when a mass breakout from the same detention centre at one time threatened to overwhelm the police and army, who were out in full force on Tuesday.

Close to 400 illegal immigrants escaped from the detention centre in the morning and several of them got as far as the roundabout leading to Garibaldi Road in Marsa before the scores of escapees were finally herded back into the centre more than two hours later.

Several policemen, soldiers and immigrants were slightly injured but security personnel showed great restraint in controlling an extremely tense situation.

The immigrants made their way out by forcing the gates open and their intention was to march to the Auberge de Castille, in Valletta, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and AFM Commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo said.

Twenty-five illegal immigrants arrived on Wednesday, bringing the total to 291 in under 16 hours after another 266 were landed on Tuesday night at about 1.30 a.m. The group of 266, the biggest number in one haul so far, consisted of 263 men and three women, hailing from Morocco and Egypt. These at first refused assistance because they wanted to proceed to Italy, but were then persuaded to board an army patrol boat after the boat's engine had stalled. Arrangements are in hand for the repatriation of most of the group.

Another 28 illegal immigrants arrived in Malta on Thursday at about 4.30 a.m. The group, including three women, landed in a boat in Benghajsa close to Birzebbuga. Another group of 48 arrived on Friday, taking the total of illegal immigrants who have arrived since last January close to 1,000.

PM inaugurates Le Méridien St Julian's

To Mark the hotel's official opening, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Tuesday visited Le Méridien St Julian's in Balluta Bay, which he described as an "additional asset" to Malta's tourism package.

During his tour of the five-star property, accompanied by his wife Kate, Dr Gonzi insisted on the importance of tourism for the economy and of continuous investment in the product to overcome the "tremendous" competition Malta was facing in the Mediterranean.

An Lm18 million investment, owned by Bajja Investments Ltd, the hotel is the first to be opened since the brand was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

MTA chairman steps down

Romwald Lungaro Mifsud on Wednesday afternoon said he would be stepping down as chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority at the end of August.

Government to challenge EU's legal action on spring hunting

Government has no intention of changing its position that allows spring hunting despite the European Commission's decision on Wednesday to initiate legal proceedings against Malta over the matter.

In a brief statement by the Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs, the government said it did not agree with the Commission's position and reiterated its commitment to defend its case "in all legal fora".

Sources close to the government said Government was committed to defending its position "no matter what it takes".

The government said that while taking note of the decision by the European Commission, this was just the first of three legal phases which the Commission has to pass through to determine whether Malta is in breach of European legislation.

Eight Ecstasy arrests

Eight People, including a woman, were arrested after they were found to be in possession of Ecstasy on Wednesday night.

The police said they found 11 Ecstasy pills during searches they conducted at a party at a Paceville establishment.

The arrested persons include six Maltese men aged 17 to 25 and a Briton aged 31, who lives in Sliema, and a 30-year-old Hungarian woman.

Man on danger list

A Foreigner residing in Malta is in danger of dying after he was injured in a traffic accident on Thursday, the police said.

The man, 43, who was driving a motorcycle, was involved in a crash with three stationary cars at traffic lights in Birkirkara Road, St Julian's.

Frendo lashes out at EU over illegal migration

Government will be taking a "tough stand" at the next EU Foreign Ministers' Council over the lack of commitment by the EU on illegal immigration.

In a meeting with his counterpart in Hungary, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo requested that country's support on the matter.

"The European Union is dealing with Malta with a small countries mentality and this is unacceptable", Dr Frendo said.

In a meeting with Kinga Goncz, Dr Frendo said all attention was on Spain, which was getting assistance, while Malta was being left in the lurch.

Accused of threatening seven policemen

Sandro Degabriele, 28, of Rabat, on Friday was charged with threatening seven police officers in an incident lasting three-and-a-half hours.

Degabriele pleaded not guilty to threatening the policemen, driving recklessly while under the influence of alcohol and failing to take a breathalyser test. He also pleaded not guilty to driving without a licence and insurance cover.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar granted the accused bail on condition he only leaves his home to go to work and that he signs daily at the Rabat police station. He was further bound by a Lm500 deposit and a Lm500 personal guarantee.

Bacchus restaurant blaze

Bacchus Restaurant in Mdina was gutted by a blaze that broke out early on Friday afternoon. Half of the ceiling at the restaurant's rear area collapsed as a result of the fire. The restaurant was open when the fire broke out and there were some 35 patrons being served. But everyone made it out safely, including the staff, shortly after the blaze started spreading.

It is still not clear what caused the blaze. The police are investigating.