MEPA officials tell police of persistent pressure from Pullicino Orlando

Joseph Ellis

Jul 4th 2008, 21:46

I am also perplexed by the role of the A-G in this saga. The Police authorities conferred with the A-G before filing charges. I think this is wrong. The Police should have consulted their lawyers or private ones but not the A-G. The A-G's role is precisely defined in the Criminal Code which states that his role commences when he receives the acts of the compilation of evidence (article 431). The A-G has the power to send back the acts to the court to hear further evidence, to change the charges, to acquit the person being investigated as well as to draw up the bill of indictment. These are very wide powers.

That the A-G acts in such a nonchalant manner shows how vulnerable the rule of law is in this country. If the court of criminal inquiry decides that more charges are to be brought against these individuals as well as others, what shall the A-G do when he receives the acts once he has already decided that no other charges should be brought ? Surely, he should not have prejudged the matter prior to the compilation of evidence.

Joseph Ellis

Jul 4th 2008, 21:32

I am perplexed by several things in this case. Azzopardi and Mifsud are accused under article 124 of the Criminal Code. This article prescribes a prison term of up to 6 months. So, why is the case not being heard before a Court of Criminal Judicature, the so-called district court ? It is not clear to me why a compilation of evidence is under way. And then what private interest had these individuals in the matter ? I bet that they will be acquitted of the charges brought against them.

This article 124 does not cover an MP. However, it may well have been the case that charges should have been brought under article 121A. Such charges would definitely have necessitated a compilation of evidence as they entail a prison term of more than 6 months. As Noel Cutajar pointed out, the court of criminal inquiry (and not any court) can add charges and extend them to accomplices (article 397).

A Daley

Jul 4th 2008, 20:18

Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed) Fellow Royal Society of Medicine, gave us an excellent example, and this from an honourable person. When Dr. Portelli saw that corruption within PN was real and actually the norm in everyday life, he resigned and kept away from the filth.

We need decent and CLEAN professionals like Dr. Portelli to come forward and show their disgust in public, so that at least we may start to get rid of the stench in Malta. The political stench, which is now entrenched and taken fore granted in our everyday life.

PN should take his advice and once JPO is made to resign, call for new DEMOCRATIC elections.

Victor Aquilina

Jul 4th 2008, 19:53

Like any other scandal in Malta this will be spoken about followed by non reaction of the authorities to be promptly forgotten by all and sundry. It happens constantly and the players continue playing their game, all unscathed.

Noel Cutajar

Jul 4th 2008, 18:25

Any Court of Law has the right to bring to Court anyone who is mentioned in a criminal case even though the police might not have a) investigated the case or b) his or her name crops up in the compilation of evidence and the Court may cause that the person be arraigned in Court. So, do not think that the Police have not brought charges against a person, the Court may not cause the case to be. So, keep in mind that the show is not over until there is final judgement which is the appeal case (if there will be).

Jo Etienne Abela

Jul 4th 2008, 15:57

@Gerard Mangion

Thanks. My advice...vote for him again!

r. axiaq

Jul 4th 2008, 15:52

hahahaha...poor JPO!!!!

C.Catania

Jul 4th 2008, 10:33

heheheheheheheeheh turns out the the PN is not the prefect party for our country as they tried to depict it to us some time ago!!!

Gerard Mangion

Jul 4th 2008, 10:18

@ jo said

My friend if you don't trust the, A.G, the Courts of Law, and the Police Commissioner,
then you sure must have a big Problem Indeed ! As you well said , Only a Jury and a Judge
can can pass judgement yes Indeed,
but tell me, it is not that a Jury or even a Magistrate court to hear a case is, by the Government Agents that you don't trust , to bring the case to be judged, It is them who make all the Investigations ! ecc, ecc or maybe You preferred the investigations to be heard @ some Bord tal- Vigilanza ? @ jo etienne abela,firstly I am not to correct anybody's Wisdom the
reason that he JPO, Has not been charged is a good answer I guess, my friend.

effie carbonaro

Jul 4th 2008, 00:14

please daphne give us your comment on this article

Jo Etienne Abela

Jul 3rd 2008, 21:51

@Gerard Mangion
My friend, I believe the case would be closed had the AG pronounced a "nulla prosequi". I don't think this is the case. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

GLENN BUHAGIAR

Jul 3rd 2008, 21:20

and i thought he was there to help us citizens ...what a fool i was:-)

ALBERT FENECH

Jul 3rd 2008, 21:08

Two quotations that Dr. JPO and Dr. Lawrence Gonzi may find useful. King George VI of Britain said to Nevil Chamberlain "For God's sake man, go", urging the British Prime Minister to resign after he had shown total appeasement towards Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler. That was in 1938. More recently, King Juan Carlos of Spain turned on erratic Venezuelan President Ugo Chavez and said to him "Why don't you shut up!".

Both Dr Gonzi and Dr JPO would do well to take heed and take note ......

Dr Frank Portelli

Jul 3rd 2008, 20:12

Politicians like Caesar's Wife – must be above suspicion.

In 62 BC Caesar's wife Pompeia hosted the festival of the Bona Dea ("good goddess"), which no males were permitted to attend.

A young patrician Publius Clodius Pulcher ( PCP) gained admittance disguised as a woman, apparently for the purpose of seducing Pompeia.

Although Clodius was acquitted of this “Sacrilege” by the Senate , Caesar still divorced Pompeia, with the immortal Dictum " It is not enough for Caesar's wife not to be guilty - Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion"

Cicero, Letters to Atticus 1.13;

In my view there is only one Honourable way out.

Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed) Fellow Royal Society of Medicine.

PHILIP PACE

Jul 3rd 2008, 20:06

Welcome to the circus.
Leaving politics aside what shall JPO say and do?
What shall the PM say?
How shall the self proclaimed defenders of JPO react?
I expect that JPO resigns with immediete effect. If not the Prime Minister has to force him to resign.
If not the Prime Minister shall be known to be a very weak leader as that would be the audience assumption.
Either way, Dr.Gonzi is in a very acute dilemma as he made a mistake of not saying anything about this.
Any more bananas?

Jo Said

Jul 3rd 2008, 19:54

@ Gerard Mangion

The Police Commissioner and The Attorney General are NOT the law. The Courts of Law are the LAW. The COP and the AG are agents to the governement of the day. I declare I do not trust any of them. JPO is using their names to trick gullible people like you. Only a jury or a judge can pass judgement. But if the government agents decided not to prosecute JPO, how can justice be seen to be done, let alone done? JPO's case is far from closed.

And JPO cannot be trusted, ever again. The PN has deceived its voters.

Alexander Grima

Jul 3rd 2008, 12:44

Well, G.C. Forte ... it's a sign of relief the Nationalists had such foresight don't you think?! They "manipulated" the issue in order to win those few extra No. 1's needed to outdo the Sant-lead-Labour ... That saved your country and its citizens from being run by a bunch of Hillbillies ... Indeed a New Beginning that would have been!!!

JOSEPH BORG

Jul 3rd 2008, 12:01

QUO VADIS DR. GONZI WITH JPO? OR ARE YOU WORRIED THAT HE CRIES AGAIN. KELLU RAGUN GHALXIEX JIBKI.

Gerard Mangion

Jul 3rd 2008, 10:49

@ all JPO Offenders

Forget it, JPO's case is closed now, He JPO had come out clean of all the Mistra case, by the highest Aouthorities of Malta ! Shame on you who are Ignoring this Fact.

Only the Law can justify someone, and no one else No ?
JPO is here to stay for the rest of the next Five Year's Sadly for you. Regards.

frida farrugia

Jul 3rd 2008, 09:17

please jpo do a favour to yourself and all the maltese RESIGN . shame on you !! first you know nothing then you know ftit after you know a bit more . our parlament does,nt need people like you so pls ZARMA.

alfred agius

Jul 2nd 2008, 21:34

And JPO would have us believe that all the pressure he piled on mepa officials was in the interest of others and certainly not his own ! How generous of him. What a hardworking and altruistic MP ! Ha, ha, ha

J Portelli

Jul 2nd 2008, 20:36

JPO you are disgraced. Just resign!!!!!

John Pisani

Jul 2nd 2008, 20:13

Yes you are very right Mr George Farrugia. SMS's are stored for two years. Hopefully, and I am pretty sure, the investigators did their job and have already retrived the messages. If this is a proof then the Magistrate is bound to ask that this evidence have to be presented in court otherwise it is only "hear say".

Clint E Taliana

Jul 2nd 2008, 19:47

I would really like to hear what Dr. Gonzi has to say about this case because so far... SILENCE is DEAFINING.

Charles J Buttigieg

Jul 2nd 2008, 19:32

@ JPO’s defenders. Shame on you when you try to justify JPO by comparing him with you and me. Fact is he belongs to the highest institution we have and his conduct ought to be beyond reproach. His parliamentary position had become untenable the day Dr. Sant unveiled the Mistragate scandal. If he has any respect to his own party he should call it a day.

Gerard Mangion

Jul 2nd 2008, 19:03

S.M.S' s, can be ritrived , even if deleted.
Leave JPO in Peace, This is all crap now !

Wellcome Back Jeff.

Ronald Galea

Jul 2nd 2008, 18:46

and imbierka is-sapjenza t'alla he is still in the parliament, and still saying that he won't resign. What are you waiting for dear Gonzi. Fejnom dawk l-idejn sodi ?

R Cassar

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:58

As usual Cgharles Camilleri - justifying the unjustifiable as long as its ..... PN! wow!

maria curmi

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:51

JPO no other word pack up tools

Abel Abela

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:42

Xi progett hu, jahasra??

M J Gatt

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:37

The saying says --- people in GLASS houses should never throw stones. That applies to all who claim they know better.

g.c.Forte

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:30

Please Christians,leave J.P.O. alone, all he did is what everybody do if he have the chance, who do not like to make an extra bob ? The worried thing is that this whole matter might have effected the result of our last election up side down. What worry me is not because my party did not win the government,but the GonziP.N.is a limping government,and this is not healthy for our country. Once we lost the election,it would be better for all,that who govern will have the absolute majority.Dr. Gonzi and Mr. Joe Saliba should somehow take the responsibility,because they knew what was going on,but to win the election they manipulated the case. Mr. Saliba know what I mean. Who knows maybe thats why he resigned.

Miriam Galea

Jul 2nd 2008, 16:11

@ Charles Camilleri
As predicted:

JPO not guilty, PN is the cleanest party ever. Vote PN and get what you deserve.

How sad.

B Mamo

Jul 2nd 2008, 15:56

@ George Farrugia

Data retention is not practised yet. The law did not pass.

george farrugia

Jul 2nd 2008, 15:27

Sms are stored for two years. You only delete them from your mobile phone not from your server.

Charles Camilleri

Jul 2nd 2008, 15:08

AS expected Philip and Anthony try to shift the blame on JPO. when such things have been going on for a long time. Deleting SMS message in such a delicate case is unbelievable.

B Mamo

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:58

Lol.

Is this the guy who said the following famous words? : "Shame on you dr.Sant!"

Shame on WHO AGAIN??? You sure you meant Dr.Sant?
Kemm ha jdum minghalih jigbdilna saqajna? Mela ahna BOLOH?!

Miriam Galea

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:51

This for sure is not true. The PN could never revert to such tactics. I think this is a conspiracy against the PN - the wishy greenish party.
JPO we love you. We elected you from 2 districts. Keep strong. Don't give up. I advice to go and give another show (some cries would do great for vote catching) on a TV programme. Use the Net and TVM they are both yours.

Keith Chircop

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:43

71 SMS messages? LOL

mary Pace

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:24

Once not very long time ago,I heard & saw JPO on tv,swear on his kids life,that he knew nothing about the mistra! I believed him,because ,who will swear on his kids ,life if it wasn;t true???

Randolph De Battista

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:03

JPO always brags about him being elected from both districts. How about a survey conducted among constituents of the seventh and eleventh district to see how many of them will vote for JPO again!!!

This means that the MLP was right all the way in stating that JPO was involved and that he is politically responsible. So yes dear JPO, you should take Joe Saliba's (and everyone's) advice and hand in your resignation. Goodbye Mr (not so) Green Politician.

B. Borg

Jul 2nd 2008, 14:00

Honestly if I had to wear his shoes, I quietly walked out from the public life and hide in the shadow, much better than being considered “lo scemo del villaggio”.

Joseph Sciberras

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:49

JPO did not break any law nor did he act any differently from any other MP when he put pressure on public officials. This happens all the time. It now appears that unlike what he had declared he knew about the project and was in fact working actively to have it approved. This alone requires that he does the hounourable thing and resign from Parliament.

A Daley

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:42

Corruption, corruption, corruption.

This is the way we live in Malta today!

Angelo Vassallo

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:34

It is really a shame that the other MEPA Official, that is, Mr. Lawrence Vassallo deleted all the 71 SMS's which could have proved without any doubt that JPO had his fingers in the pie. It would have also made Mr. Lawrence Vassallo much more credible (sic) in his statement to the police. Now they are all trying to vomit on JPO.

Ivan Galea

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:32

Guys in our country applying pressure (ghamili pjacir syndrome) does not amount to corruption....should it have happened in another EUROPEAN CIVILISED country things would have been much different. Heads and Governments would have already rolled by now but waht can you expect...you live in Malta

G.Grech

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:31

Love reading these comments!
Reminds me of the story in the bible with the famous quote 'he who is without sin throws the first stone'
I am sure all those who are writing about JPO calling on MEPA officials to 'look into' the application never spoke to family/friends to get some form of benefit such as skipping queues for hospital treatments, etc...
Mind you, i do not in any way condone what JPA did but will not try to sound as though i am holier than the pope.

Just a small observation : can these MEPA officials state if they have ever received similar requests from other members of parliament (irrespective of the colour). I am sure those virgins out there will be even more shocked!

Joe Borda

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:23

I wonder when the real truth about this will surface. The people are sick and tired of hearing different versions.

Noel Cutajar

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:16

As I had stated in earlier comments, names would come out again..by the way...who is JPO?? the dentist?...the green man of the year??? bah...this is Malta...sad to say.

mario mifsud

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:14

speak up Dr Gonzi and give us your forced laugh
JPO come on shed some more crocodile tears
Police Comm, what are you waiting for to press charges against JPO
Where is the letter of resignation

I still think that somehow the govmnt and nationalist party including JPO will still make it thru the day.

Marcel Dingli

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:12

Just imagine a simple worker being transferred continuously etc.or being discriminated in overtime and other things. No crime there, but surely there would be a hidden hand.

j portelli

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:05

Somewhere there is a misprint....

How could JPO make pressure when he did not know about it??

M. Brincat

Jul 2nd 2008, 13:04

Come on! This cannot be true! JPO repeatedly said that he doesn't know anything about all this ... this must surely be a conspiracy against Mr. SuperGREENHero!

And SuperGREENHeroes are always right.

Malcolm Seychell

Jul 2nd 2008, 12:42

And poor Jeffrey didn't know what the project was all about!!!