Tuesday, 12th August 2008 - 09:43CET
UPDATE 4: MP says thieves demanded €10,000
Labour MP Anthony Zammit, who was bound and beaten in his home last night, told police that the people who made their way into his house had demanded €10,000. They then bound his hands and gagged him using his ties and bound his feet using the wire of a lampshade, his friend Philip Schembri recounted.
The police were alerted that something was amiss when the owner of a bar close to Mr Zammit's residence saw the thieves fleeing from the house.
Mr Schembri, who looks after Mr Zammit's house, said he received a call from the police at about 4.30 a.m. asking him to go to Mr Zammit's house as something had happened to the surgeon. He realised that something was wrong as soon as he noticed that the bedroom door was locked, when Mr Zammit usually kept it open.
Mr Schembri said Mr Zammit was locked in his room by his armed aggressors.
Mr Zammit told them how three men had beat him around in the head, demanded €10,000 and tied him up.He gave them what cash he had, as well as his mobile phone, and the thieves ransacked his home. However, it did not seem that they took anything of value.
It is not known how the thieves gained access to the house as there was no sign of a break-in. They are likely to have been there before Mr Zammit arrived, surprising him when he went to bed.
The men tried to get away in a stolen Kia Avella but it would not start so they ran off.
Dr Zammit's injuries are not thought to be serious.
The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) said it was disgusted at the violent assault on Dr Zammit.
"MAM offers its support and solidarity and while wishing Surgeon Anthony Zammit a speedy recovery, it augurs that the Police will apprehend the villains and bring them to justice," the association said.
Various other associations expressed their solidarity with Dr Zammit including the PN, the MLP and Zebbug council.
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Comments
I can hardly find words to express my regret that it had to be such a fine person's case to shed more light on this situation.
On behalf of my family and our Zebbug friends, II wish Prof Zammit a speedy recovery not just from the injuries he sustained but from the trauma he must have undergone.
This professional gentleman has won acclaim not only for his surgical skills but also for his exemplary bedside manners. He deserves to be considered as a role model for all medical professionals.
Get well soon, Mr Zammit.
Hope you get well soon professor.
I, know Mr. Zammit well,and was very wsorry to hear what happened to him.
Wish you a speedy recovery,
I guess not much thought was given before this call was made. What if some of the aggressors were still around the house? No one other then armed officers should have entered the house, you'd expect this to be standard police procedure. Mr Schembri could have been easily put at risk.
Let's hope these incidents don't become common place.
Wishing you a speedy recovery Mr Zammit.
All such crimes are vile and cruel, this is exceptionally so. Attacking a gentleman who works so hard to help others is a crime against society. Indeed it's disgusting. What if he had a critical patient waiting for operation?
I hope that the forensics manage to bring up all the evidence so that the culprits are caught. A quick flip through the police records would probably show that if any fingerpriots were left at the scene, these have a name.
It 's no use blaming this and that - PC's on beat cannot be everywhere at the same time, while aggressors strike when it's least expected. The mobile squads do a grand job, on the other hand, as these are usually close at hand if there's an emergency call.
I guess, as they say, a dog is a man's best friend, so I'm seriously considering adopting a german-shepherd gaurd-dog!
The only amusing thing about this story is how they getaway car failed to start - showing some gross lack of 'professionalism'. So they ran away. I guess a faithful dobermann would have given them a good 'run' for their money, huh?
I was last living in Trinidad where my neighbor, a husband and father of two was kidnapped for ransom, accidentally murdered when they cut an artery and then beheaded. The head was never found.
In a separate incident, during a home robbery an elderly couple were murdered while they were babysitting their grandchildren, both under 5. The parents found the children alive and amongst the bodies when they came to pick them up after a few hours of shopping.
A friend of my niece (age 19) was raped and strangled to death with a telephone chord.
I am happy to read that Mr. Zammit is alive to tell the tale.
Malta is still a relatively safe place to bring up children. The reason I returned.
I do not condone violence, and I do sympathize with any victim of crime, however, I feel lucky to live in a country where the extent of an armed break-in and forced abduction leads to nothing serious but for a few bruises.
Let's hope it does not escalate.
When people get to know their constable/s they'll open up and that way the costables can get information on what goes on.
I appreciate your comments but I still don’t agree with you. You will keep on blaming the government for ever and ever for lack of protection because there can never be enough police to watch over every corner of the island. Prevention is always better than cure by investing in better education (which the government is doing) and good upbringing by the parents (which is not happening enough because they are too busy minding their own careers). Maybe your wish will come true when the government hires a satellite in space to monitor every action in our streets. But then you need to be prepared to accept the fact that you are being watched in your own private bed and bathroom.
I hope the criminals will be caught and hopefully they wouldn't be granted bail but a long sentence in prison. We have to keep in mind that people who go through a trauma like this, they keep going with that traumatic feeling for very long time with most of them becoming paranoid. It's a horrible experience.
I wish Prof. Zammit a speedy recovery. He is a life saver in it's true meaning. May God protect you all the way.
I cannot imagine how anyone with a heart could do such brutal things to this outstanding person with such a noble heart! I hope justice will be done and I pray to God for Prof Zammit's health and wish him a quick recovery.
Another thing I really do not think this was done by illegal immigrants. these people were maltese and they knew exactly what they were doing and who he is!
Shame on the police force if they do not find these thieves asap!
To all those 49% that are now livid at what is happening in our Island.
Go back a few years and remember what EFA used to say when there was some incident that happened in them days!
No matter what it was, whether it was drug related, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, oil price hike, world recession, you name it, and it was always the fault of the Labour administration.
So yes, whatever happens now, it is the Government’s fault, no matter what!
What a bunch of hypocrites!
Mr Anthony Zammit I truly wish you a speedy recovery and may these criminals have what they deserve.
....solidarity with Mr.Zammit and all those who have passed through similar situations.......I'm sure Mr.Zammit would do with a prayer or two and a word of encouragement from everyone from all the political spectrum and all those of goodwill
Daley------Shameful that anyone would try to take disgusting mileage from such an inhumane situation! Shame on you!! Vera jmissek tisthi ( .....cause in maltese I express disgust better)
Silvio PARNIS M.P
@ Mr Turner I assume you are an English gentlemen, if so start writing to the sunday times complaining about the state of affairs in your country.
@ Mr Grima, I agree with you that we are swamped with illegal migrants and foreigners but I do not think that they have come this far YET.
REGARDS TO ALL
pardon my being ignorant but i thought that govt is responsible to ensure the citizen's safety.
so why are some ppl getting so excited bcoz some bloggers here are pointing their fingers at the govt? if something goes right the govt get the credit but if it goes wrong we 're expected to point fingers in another direction !!
wise up guys and give credit where due but also put the blame on those who really are responsible......in this case the govt....remember ' f'darek bla biza'?'
Such acts should be punished by jail
This incident is a despicable display of society's failure to protect it's citizens. Law enforcement seems to be at it's lowest, concentrating on petty crimes rather than enforcing laws that safeguard the individual on the road and in the home.
I wish Dr. Zammit a speedy recovery from this terrible incident and hope that his courage remains steadfast.
Best Wishes from Karin and Kevin in Scotland
F'darek bla biza!!!
@ Daley and Turner: your comments are pathetic.
While every Nationalist and Labourite jumped the gun with their silly negative comments one has to understand the actual motive of this crime.
What was the reason? Who planned it? Why they picked on an MP? And other questions.
In the last years we had old people mugged and even killed in their homes.
Let us be straight and honest about this. Criminality of all sorts has taken place and is on the rise. That is an undisputable fact as the list grows longer!
I personally do not give a toss because some reason in an inane and defensive way that criminality is on the rise in foreign lands. I do not live there so therefore I do not care about that, as if they find solace in that perverted reasoning!
I care about the situation here in Malta as I live here, which is getting seriously out of hand.
Are we coming to the point that we don't feel safe in our homes or would not dare to walk the streets in the morning/afternoon/evening/night?
What are the authorites going to do about safeguarding our lives?
Rotten bananas
I find it difficult to understand why the aggressors did not grab what they could while they had the chance and ran when they were unhindered like thieves normally do and preferred to sit and wait for their victim. Is it my suspicious nature or is it that there’s more to this than meets the eye? Will the police rule out a conspiracy? Trying not to sound an alarmist, could there have been political or other motives in this horrendous act? I am not very impressed with the fact that the villains took off with the money as that could have been their bonus and also used as a decoy.
Do not blame the Times for not mentioning the name of the man assaulted. The police first releases the accident and than reveals the identity people get a life. Lots of people get assaulted etc etc why this Mp Anthony Zammit should get more coverage than other people (im referring to those who have no title or are important figures in the Maltese society). I agree with those who say that the crime rate is on the rise and that we have a serious problem most of these crimes are committed by juveniles (20- 30 age group)
Society has a role to play for sure, but its the Government's responsibility to place deterrents and helping to keep us safe.
As I said in a previous post, society at large in England has gone to the dogs; kids killing kids, gangs in every city etc etc.. (I'm not saying its as bad as that here, far from it, but we should make sure it never gets as bad as that) - and the English people blame the govenment and that includes staunch Labourites.
But it seems in Malta we're only like other European countries when it suits are political sensibilities.
Let's hope that any witnesses who could be of some help will come forward.
But, when a few days ago there was a letter published in this newspaper about a person who was mugged in front of his young family, including children, at the Sliema Front at eleven pm at night, nobody wrote in to show sympathy.
So, I ask, is this sympathy all due because this man is an MP?
Or is it because he is our Party's MP?
Or is it because we know him personally as our family doctor?
In which case, why not show solidarity even with those who are strangers to us?
If we only show kindness to those who we know or who are our relatives, what payment will we get in Heaven?
The Gospels say it, not I.
Onc e I am on the line, I would like to extend my solidarity too.
One can blame PN government for omissions but surely not for commissions for many of which previous MLP governments were blamed.
Alas I augur Mr. Anthony Zammit a quick recovery and the arrest of the culprits.
Your cousin,
Charles Zammit.
before shaming The Times, note that you too are not giving Mr. Zammit his proper professional title! He is a Consultant and has not managed to become Professor so his title is Mr. Anthony Zammit and not Prof. Anthony Zammit even though on this island, it seems everyone throws titles as if they are for free.
BTW what happened is still a shame whatever who the victim was.
GLADYS AND SALVINU CARUANA M'XLOKK.
@ Marianne Mercieca - Crime rates and knife culture in England are always on the rise, and do you know who the English people blame, thats right the government. The government is responsible for proper police patrol, the government is responsible for establishing very long jail sentences for anyone caught doing anything criminal - Honestly no wonder the PN never take responsibility for any wrong doing with certain people blaming all and sunder apart from who is at the helm.
The same goes for Italy, the government was blamed for the rise in crime and Berlusconi pretty much got relected on the 'Ridding Italy of Crime' ticket.
PN are in government, they are running the country and therefore if there is a rise in crime, its up to them and them alone to establish law, order and control to cut down on crimes.
I wish Dr. Zammit all the best
You're a sick joke
@Turner
No sense or shame
Wishing Hon Zammit a speedy recovery.
We need tuffer enforcement in this country and fast.
PERIT GODWIN AGIUS
President - 12th May Band & Social Club
If PC's existed in the not-so-distant-past, and you wrote anything remotely critical, you'd be wearing one by now or picking your teeth out of it!
@ M Turner.......errr.......on second thoughts, forget it. Waste of energy.
We went through the worst imaginable criminal aggression some years ago when our Villa, our Radio Station and our car were arsoned. Ten years after, the criminals who almost destroyed us are still on the loose. When something like this happens the victims are very much on their own. Ask some of them to tell you their harrowing stories Joseph Galea. I am sure that will change your aggressive attitude.
I suggest that we do not allow this exchange to deviate from its original subject: The aggression suffered by Dr Anthony Zammit to whom, I again express my fullest, steadfast support.
Two of the men ran in one direction and the third in another. A policeman gave chase but they escaped."
when will the police have the POWER to shoot the agressors in such circumstances?! As the regulations state, the police can either follow or fire a warning shot, but can't shoot at first instance unless he is shot at or sees that a third person's life is in danger!
Ask the police who were shot at some months back at Ghajn Dwieli how lucky they were!
We need justice, and justice can only be done with being more SEVERE with criminals!
Ma nistax nifhem kif hawn nies li jaslu jaghmlu atti bhal dawn fuq Maltin bhalhom. Il-kriminalita f'Malta qed tizdiet u hemm bzonn li nharxu l-pieni ma dawn in-nies. Nawgura lill siehbi fejqan ta' malajr u nheggeg lill Pulizija jaghmlu hilithom biex jinqabdu l-persuni li ghamlu dan l-Att kodard u jiehu dak li verament haqqhom.
RENE SAVONA VENTURA - SINDKU SAN GWANN
Mr Zammit, my husband and I wish you a speedy recovery from both the trauma and the injuries. You're in our thoughts.
I do not understand how thiefs ( and first class criminals of this kind) can escape to police just like that. Abroad they will call in helicpoter to track in these instances. In Malta we are 30 years behind. Police wiht no technology or equipemnet - and then you receive a posting in Times saying - "they just escaped"!!
One may not agree with Mr. Zammit politically, but he is a gentleman and a well-respected surgeon. I just hope he recovers rapidly, both physically and psychologically.
maybe you should go back to your home country if you feel safer ! Or you have forgotten that in England last year we heard of boys mugging and stabbing boys !
It is unfortunate that such things happen. These happen everwhere. My sympathy goes with all victims, irrespctive of their stand in society. Mr.Zammit, being a clever and respected surgeon does not need the Onorevoli title to get his due respect - he is already well respected.
But do not go around blowing things out of proportion ! How many times have you seen blows being thrown about in rugby matches ? Who is to blame ? Is it the referee ? And by the way, during such free for alls, have you ever called the police ?
First of all I wish a very get well soon to Profs. Zammit and solidarity aswell to Profs. Zammit and his family.
Thank God the consequences where not more serious.
Hope that the Police will find who had done this violent assault on Profs. Zammit and they will take a lesson from the Justice.
A crime is a crime, no matter the victim!!!!!
House robberies – up.
Rape incidents – up.
Gang culture – up..
Bank robberies – up.
Illegal drugs intake – up.
Teenage pregnancies – up.
Now it's divorce at the door as well!
Viva Malta, Kattolika, Appostolika, Rumana.
Lovely, lovely!
Let’s hope that the culprit/s are caught and given what they deserve!
No wonder this country never improves in mentality. What does the government has to do in a robbery for you to add such a comment "Shame on the government".
Imagine the government having to send a 24-hour guard with every MP or important person in this country. U x'kull wahda wkoll!!!
Why do such tragedies always bring out the worst in some of us?
"Neighbourhood, armed vigilantes," indeed!
Whatever next? Arm patches to identify foreigners?
Incidentally I agree with your correspondent who asked why you failed to show the proper respect and give Professor Zammit his proper title, Onorevoli. Even this helps create a lack of respect for law and order, so shame on the Times too. Michael Turner
its hard to believe that we have such mafia in Malta or people of the other side getting their own back,,usa has nothing to our filthy country
im so ashamed to have to live here
The strongest solidarity with Dr Zammit.
Time we set up our own neighbourhood vigilantes.
Given that such crimes are almost of a daily nature it is time we improve security measures in our home towns with modern surveillaince systems and more frequent patrols. There is also a need for people to co-operate more with the police force. I suspect that many citizens do not know where to call during emergencies or when to suspect that a crime is to be held. An educational camapign is required. Always better to be safe than sorry.
Hopefully, he will recover soon, and the guilty trio will be caught and sentenced accordingly. There is no excuse for violence.