MPs testify on 'threats' made by prison inmate

Two Labour MPs said in court yesterday they had been threatened by a prison inmate after speaking about a contract awarded to a company owned by the man's family.

They were testifying before Magistrate Lawrence Quintano in the compilation of evidence in the case against Mario Camilleri, known as L-imniehru.

Mr Camilleri stands charged with having verbally threatened two opposition MPs, José Herrera and Anglu Farrugia, in connection with a cleaning contract for the law courts.

The prosecuting officer, Police Inspector Carmelo Magri, told the court both MPs had informed him on November 3 that Mr Camilleri had threatened them verbally.

Dr Farrugia told the police Mr Camilleri, currently serving time in prison, had called him on his mobile phone asking why he was causing Mr Camilleri to suffer hardship.

The prosecution informed the court that Dr Herrera had reported being threatened by Mr Camilleri in the law courts. The MP said Mr Camilleri had told him to be careful about what parliamentary questions to put and not to mention him (Mr Camilleri) or his family.

Dr Herrera testified that he had not received any threatening phone calls from Mr Camilleri but that the accused had approached him in court.

Dr Herrera said he had tabled a parliamentary question about the company which had been awarded a cleaning contract for the law courts. It resulted that the contract had been awarded to Special Cleaners Ltd, a company owned by Mr Camilleri's family. The contract had subsequently been rescinded.

The witness said that when he was in court, Mr Camilleri had stopped him saying he wanted to speak to him. The accused, Dr Herrera testified, told him to be careful as he (Mr Camilleri) would soon be released from prison.

Dr Farrugia said he had spoken about the award of the contract to Mr Camilleri's family at a political event on October 28. He had also demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Tonio Borg and of Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici in connection with the contract.

Dr Farrugia said he had received a call on his mobile phone the following day. The caller had identified himself as "Mario", and had spoken to Dr Farrugia about the cleaning contract. Dr Farrugia said he interpreted Mr Camilleri's words as a threat.

Lawyer Franco Debono was counsel to Mr Camilleri.