I have read the story about the photographer Graham Cooper who was taken to a police station for questioning after taking a photograph of Siggiewi mayor Robert Musumeci talking to a Malta Environment and Planning Authority board member in a car park (The Sunday Times, January 4, 2009). Has Malta now become a police state?

There is more to this than meets the eye. Surely, a public figure like Mr Musumeci does not need police protection every time a photo is taken of him.

So what was Mr Musumeci's reason for getting the police to take Mr Cooper to the police station and have the photo he took confiscated?

In Mr Musumeci's own words, "He was in my face, invading my territory." "I asked for protection from the State." Protection from what? One guy with a camera?

The fact that Mr Musumeci reacted in this way may give the impression that he has something to hide.

Is it considered usual and ethical in Malta for architects to consult with members of boards that have just adjudicated cases they were involved in?

This is like a judge walking off his podium and consulting in the law courts with one of the lawyers of the case, something that is (hopefully) unthinkable. Even if they were not discussing the case, it is a case of "Justice has to be done and has to be seen to be done".

The story also reflects poorly on the Mepa board member. A search through the Mepa website shows only one Floriana case last week, towards the beginning of the session.

Are we to understand that the board member abandoned the hearing of other cases in order to talk to Mr Musumeci?