Sunday, 23rd November 2008
Witnesses in rape case have not been interviewed
Key witnesses have still not been interviewed two months after police said they were investigating claims that a lawyer and other middlemen attempted to pay off the family of a 14-year-old girl who claims she was raped.
Early in October police said that investigations into the claims had been launched as soon as they were raised. But sources close to the family from Nadur confirmed that nobody had been interviewed.
Police were asked to give an official update on the investigation but no response was forthcoming by the time the newspaper went to print.
The approach on the family was revealed by The Sunday Times shortly after four men were charged with offences related to the rape of the girl early in October.
Brothers Peter Paul and Josef Said, were accused of raping the girl, while Mark Lorry Said and Peter Paul Debono were charged with her defilement. They are all under house arrest.
The girl's mother had said that a lawyer and close relatives of her daughter's alleged aggressors persuaded her family to sign a contract stating they would not testify in court in return for €7,000 in "psychological support" and a €23,000 guarantee pledging that the accused would not approach the girl.
The mother said she had signed the contract under intense pressure from the group, which included relatives of the Said brothers and a priest who acted as an intermediary, and out of fear of exposing the issue to the Gozitan community.
However, she regretted it immediately and together with her daughter, they forged ahead with the complaint.
On the day the men were charged, the girl's mother said another approach was made - this time by two different lawyers (one from Gozo and another from Malta) who said they wanted to "see if they could come to an arrangement" over the arraignment of the men. The woman immediately called a family acquaintance and the men left.
The issue was raised in parliament last week by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, who asked Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici to reveal the names of the lawyers involved and whether any action would be taken over the family's claims.
The minister did not comment, saying that there were pending court proceedings.
The claims of interference were also raised by Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano in a judgment imposing stricter bail conditions on the accused on October 9.
The Chief Justice said there seemed to have been "manoeuvres" by people who had an interest to see that the case does not reach the courts.
"It seems that, before the accused were charged in court, money changed hands in order for there to be withdrawal of the complaint (in respect of the accused bearing the Said surname)," the Chief Justice had said.
He had heard the prosecuting officer and the victim's mother testify in a request by the Attorney General to revoke bail.
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Comments
Some 18 year-old junkie gets his name and almost his address splashed for getting nabbed pushing a joint to sustain his habit on the harder stuff.
Almost the very last word of the newsitem would be the Police Inspector's name responsible for such a feat. Anything to get the Inspector's name in the papers and making sure it being the last name the reader comes across, reducing the likelihood of the Inspector's name being forgotten.
And then these men in silk and in cloth two months later remain one of the Islands' best kept secrets.
Whereas the junkie was a victim of circumstance and Malta's Finest throw the book at him, it seems that a set of rules from another planet were applied for the others.
How's that for a shrewd business sense? :)
Well, after reading THIS item, my conclusion is: maybe so. However, the sentence: 'and a priest who acted as an intermediary' is the cherry on the cake! These things, yes, only happen in Gozo. Malta's priests are a different kettle of fish than those found on our sister-island!
Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
I mean: in what way was that 'priest' involved?
This child needs justice and the eyes of the world are on this case to ensure that this happens. The lawyers who along with close relatives 'persuaded' the girl's mother not to testify in return for cash should not be allowed to practice law ever again. The fact that a priest was also involved in this 'persuasion' is absolutely disgusting and I hope the church takes the appropriate action.
The children of this world must at all costs be protected. The fact that they were allowed bail is an indication that questions need to be asked of the Maltese legal system. I wish the girl in question all the best for the future and I have the greatest respect for her family who have refused to be bought off.