Man pleads not guilty to projecting porno films

GiovDeMartino@R Gauci

Jul 28th 2009, 07:51

I agree that "he who has never watched a porno film cast the first stone." BUT the diff. is that there are those who watch a porno film privately w/o letting anyone know that they are watching a porno film. They know that what there are doing is not very edifying and wouldn't let their wife and chn. know that their dad is watching a porno...There are others who watch the porno film, try to give the impression that they are modern and do their best to inform the world that they are watchin the porno film. And they try to make us believe that they are doing the right thing and those who beg to differ are Talibans coming from the middle ages.etc. And protest because we are an oppressed people. All this because pornography in PUBLIC, with the reach of everyone, is not allowed. I wonder whether these persons would watch a porno film accompanied by their 18 year old sons/daughters.

Danny Bright

Jul 27th 2009, 21:40

@Stephen Farrugia excuse my ignorance but whats an Australian Chick sunshine?, if you lived in my wonderful country of Australia where people live their life to the full and democracy really means democracy , we called our female gender (unmarried ofcourse) SHEILAS and thats Ferdinkum Brucie. But as you say this is a Maltese newspapers and ofcourse as your well know saying Thats malta money and church and politic not necessarily in that order but i guess that it. Have a nice life . G;gay Mate and regards to all the Manchester United supporters in a little place called is it Misida? i was there 6 years ago and loved it.

Joe Xuereb

Jul 26th 2009, 20:12

Oh dear! one more reason why I won't be coming to my country any day soon. On a wet Sunday afternoon in Valletta, the choice was between the CityLights or the arazzi (tapestries) at St John's Cathedral. The porn was more uplifting and won every time. Tossing of coin not even necessary.
@Chris Mifsud. No porno cinemas in the Middle East. You are not thinking of Muslim Turkey obviously. Where any town of ANY size has its porno cinema in the main street, not alleyway. I believe it is a clever ruse by the Turkish administration so that young men, who have hardly any access to females as we know it in Malta, may have an outlet for their healthy curiosity. And of course, catholic countries like Spain, Portugal and Italy have a profusion of such establishments. But Malta is, of course, holier than the Vatican. Or maybe Maltese youth are being encouraged to do it rather than see it. Something to do with wanting to boost the population. jJust a thought.

Joe Fenech

Jul 26th 2009, 20:10

Not having a porn cinema discriminates those who can't afford internet at home! Unless Gonzi is going to be censoring that too like China and some other staunch Muslim countries!

J S Borg

Jul 26th 2009, 19:38

I agree with Mr Farrugia, maybe we still have some strange laws, but who hasn't? I travelled to Australia several times and the corruption over their is incredible. The italian indragita and mafia is peanuts compared to them. Queensland and Victoria market are the headquarters. a women shooting a young boy at point blank offering nor resistance whatsoever after trying to steal from her husbands shop. The court decided that it was no murder only self defence when the boy was unarmed. Who is kidding who?

Ronnie Gauci

Jul 26th 2009, 16:54

Let he who has never watched a porn movie cast the first stone.

The major sin here is all that waste of resources by our police force to arraign this guy. One question, who needs this place? I suspect that somebody is interested in developing the area.

Stephen Farrugia

Jul 26th 2009, 16:49

To the australian chick who believes that malta is back :

If you don't mind. Please, stop saying you're proud you don't live in malta, you're on a maltese newspaper! I can clearly state i'm absolutely proud to live in malta ; the drug catches they've done this year, the improvements in the healthcare system (which although some might disagree, i've been going to the hospital for the last 5 years, and the difference is huge) the amount of people the legal system has done to help its citizens. If you said something about the roads, i would have agreed... and trust me when I say. CHANGES ARE BEING MADE. I'm not a patriotic person, but i hate it when people read one sentence and judge a book.

I've been to australia; I believe marijuana is illegal right? so why did i see people smoking it on a beach with policemen right behind them doing nothing? Corruption is not a maltese word, thus, corruption didn't originate from malta.

and another thing; please...complain about something real, live in australia, carry on not being a goodie two shoes as you claim, and let us live in peace.

Paul Vella

Jul 26th 2009, 15:34

A decisive step in the Valletta rehabilitation process lol

KEVIN c Zammit

Jul 26th 2009, 13:13

Hi All . I happened to spend most the last 30 years working on the same street as the cinema in question and see the funny side of things. I have witnessed People of all walks of life entering the building. Sometimes these people walk up and down the street and only enter when no one is around, while others just walk right in without giving a damn who is seeing them enter.
You see tourists going in to the 'cinema', only to come back out a couple of mins later, laughing after finding out it was an adult cinema. There was also a funny episode some years back, during a tremor, all the patrons came running out, one fell down the stairs ,got badly injured and had to be hospitalised .
Regarding its closure, this was a odd after so many years and countless interventions by police who were called in for some disturbance or other. You have the magistrates reserved parking right opposite its entrance. The local police station was right round the corner. Whatever....only in malta...lol

Joseph Caruana

Jul 26th 2009, 12:29

can someone share that piece of law which makes this illegal?

I am curious. As this cinema was a good platform for teenage adventures and old men meeting place.

e.grech

Jul 26th 2009, 10:06

I think the police wanted to do this man a favour because at 67 too much excitment can be harmful......they now want him to retire and enjoy a relaxed life.....This whole thing is so very funny
:))))

M Agius

Jul 26th 2009, 09:36

One day hopefully the church and the state will be fully separated from each other, and controversial issues with which the church does not agreed can be faced and serious discussions can take place, until then bring popcorn and enjoy the farce.

G Axisa

Jul 26th 2009, 09:05

Might as well arrest all of us...and I do mean all, apart from the Police themselves of course.They do not ,and have never watched porno,not even in it's mildest form on the internet.

A Caruana

Jul 26th 2009, 08:57

This is amazingly funny. This should go in the Guinness book of records!!!

30 years!!!!! just BEHIND the LAW COURTS!!!!

Thanks for the laugh, ..... this is a living proof of what the country has become - A STAND UP COMEDY!

Kevin Zammit

Jul 26th 2009, 08:25

I'm surprised to find out the guy is still in business!!!

People: you are missing the point there!!!

The authorities did the right thing cause I can't believe people still go to a cinema to watch porn!

Pule' Carmel

Jul 26th 2009, 03:02

Without moral control, as predicted by Neitzhe 100 yeaars ago.

If chance be the father of all flesh, disaster is his rainbow in the sky,
And when you hear a state of emergency,sniper kills man and youths go looting,
it is the sound of men worshiping their master.

And this is the type of lyrics that sell in a modern song, should we accept it as others do?
Are such lyrics and porn so harmless in EU countries?

She begged me not to kill her, I gave her a rose,
then slit her throat and watched her shake, till her eyes closed.
Had sex with the corpse before I left her,
and drew my name on the wall like helter skelter.

The slow effect of the influence of various grades of European immorality has already established itself in many big cities around Europe. It is a slow intoxication which many think is harmless, but the wisom of old age has predicted modern behaviour more than 100 years ago, and people seek excitation levels beyond the control of the average human mind, leading to a deep unhappiness which some seek to solve with methods that will eventually avalanche against them.

Domnic Mercieca

Jul 25th 2009, 22:57

When our neighbors the people of the EU sees this,I m sure that they would not stop laughing and making fun of this stupid country. I really wish I had nothing to do with this country!!! Let the man live his life,and the police should try for once to do its job and catch the big fish,I am sure they know where to look for!!!

Emma Xerri

Jul 25th 2009, 18:40

What is this, the Maltese Taliban?

Unbelievable!

Malta will never be truly a free country until the people stop being such hypocrites. People are afraid to openly state what they truly believe and will always say they support the Church's role and interference, while at the same time blatantly do what they please, that is, the reverse of what they say and claim to believe. I guess that is what being a fervent Catholic really means.

And that is why we ended up being the only Theocaracy in the EU.

D Vella

Jul 25th 2009, 17:04

All you have to do is go on the internet and it's all there in glorious technicolor and for free. Now this is what I call a waste of police time.

Why not go for the real crooks, those who for years have collected for charities both here and abroad with never a receipt to account for how they've spent the money. They're the criminals.

Kevin Bonnici

Jul 25th 2009, 16:21

There is really only one argument regarding this case: was it against the law (no matter how archaic)? If so, then he must be prosecuted. HOWEVER, what about other laws; such as the electoral law which has been in the news so much lately? If the police are following a minor case such as this then they should also be following on the expenditure of the European Parliament canditates. Punto e basta.

A. Borg

Jul 25th 2009, 16:13

Does the prosecution officer has internet access?
Are we going back to the Medju Evu age?

GiovDeMartino

Jul 25th 2009, 15:35

Meravilja kif inhuma ossessjonati bil-knisja xi whud. Illum m'haw xejn izjed facli milli toqghod tara ftit pornografija. Mhux biss fuq l-internett, imma llum kulhadd ghandu dvd players. U DVD's porno ssib kemm trid. Allura ghalfejn dal-plejtu kollu? Daqqa ngorru ghax m'hawx infurzar tal-ligijiet u daqqa ngorru ghax HAW infurzar. Jekk xi hadd ghandu jiehu passi kontra xi hadd ghandu johodhom kontra l-pulizija li hallew dal-ksur sfaccat tal-ligi ghal tant u tant snin. Tistghu tahsbu kemm kienu jsiru spezzjonijiet ghat-tipjip u ghal tfal taht l-eta. Jien nippretendi kjarifikazzjoni mill-awtoritajiet. MINGHAJR MA NIDHOL FGIL-MERTU TA' JEKK GHANDUX IKUN HEMM CENSURA JEW LE. Imma biex inkunu Ewropej possibbli jonqosna biss li nxerrdu l-pornografija? Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar il-maggoranza HI KONTRA l-Ewropa.

joe Caruana

Jul 25th 2009, 15:23

@Karl Consiglio
Thank you for reminding us that the nationalists invented internet (apart from all that we read about in the daily papers).
@GiovDeMartino
Congratulations for your memory. It is odd that you remember the farthest past while you forget the most recent.

Pule' Carmel

Jul 25th 2009, 15:07

It does not take a very brave dog to bark at the bones of a lion.

It does not take a very brave hidden man to gaze with awe at the porn images on a screen.

I requires great courage and bravery from a real man to meet a real woman, and to agree to do whatever comes naturally, and then to shoulder all the resopnsibilities of their actions including raising a real family.

It takes a very stupid sick dog to quench his thirst and hunger on looking at the images of meats, sausages and stuffed chickens, pasted on the side of the butchers truck parked in the local square.

There is nothing to beat home cooking and the manner in which home meals are presented, whatever EU and democracy allows outside the home!

S. Calleja

Jul 25th 2009, 13:59

Excuse me, but... wahaHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

John Abela

Jul 25th 2009, 12:56

I hope this is a joke by our police force. Are we in europe or not......btw pornography is available a click away by internet and thus no need of a cinema

g.portelli

Jul 25th 2009, 12:54

Where next Colombus ? Will we be having morality police doing spot checks in the home? Will our state do a 'Beijing' deal with Google ? Or is it cognitive dissonance par excellance ?

Hubert Farrugia

Jul 25th 2009, 12:47

Another case if sheer stupidity! Such laws are totally outdated and do not make any sense nowadays. Everything is available at the click of a button. Such 'laws' are just a waste of police and legal resources. It would have been more profitable to send someone who really offended public sentiment and another person's dignity, by abusing a minor, to jail, rather than being given a suspended sentence, instead of charging this man and giving him a fine for doing nothing more than what is considered to be normal in other countries.

james Nicholl

Jul 25th 2009, 12:44

Konna Ghadna u NIBQAW - PAJJIZ tal Mickey Mouse.......

Charles Calleja

Jul 25th 2009, 12:29

aw malta la il prim u lanqas il president ma jikkmandaw... aw malta l isqof jikkmanda...

philip pace

Jul 25th 2009, 10:33

Mr.Karl Consiglio wrote:-' What hypocrites. Thanks to the Nationalists, today we can all watch porn at the touch of a button, in the comfort of our own homes.'
So if I watch a porno film I have to thank the Nationalist Party for this and therefore before casting my vote in the General Election, I should pause and think about this and I shall vote for the Nationalist Party?

Mr GiovDeMartino:- The same man or some 'mowner' was fined lm400, 25 years ago. This means that he was fined in 1984 when there was a Labour Government. That, dear Ladies and Gentlement shows you what progress we have made so far.

Mr. Tony Keepers. I simply agree with you re the biggest collection of pornographic material is at the Vatican. Can I surprise you by mentioning Pietro Aretino one great painter who has been totally ostracized by the art 'experts', since then?

No Government is bothered to change some of our archaic laws that do not do justice to our intelligence, maturity and progress as we still treated like children.

Aren't we a bunch of self made fundamentalists?

Colin Camilleri

Jul 25th 2009, 09:34

Some countries made big strides of growth in the last 35 years, both morally, legally and infrastructure wise. Others, like Malta, fell behind.
Now we are also getting first hand proof why we maltese will never achieve European Union standards, no matter how hard we pretend.....
It is a waste of the citizen's money, taxes, media coverage, public funds and courts!! There are more serious problems to tackle then people showing porn films some 30 years ago.
Come one, grow up Malta. The more we are sinking in recession the more we are getting alienated with these stupid stories.
We want solutions, we want a better standard of living, we need more money in our pockets, pay less taxes, our taxes well spent and invested!! We need a future for our kids with less debt as possible. We want to be EU citizens, then lets start behaving like ones!! Government, please, do not stare there helpless, do something for our country!!

Tony Keepers, Dorst, Holland

Jul 25th 2009, 08:54

@Andrea Pullicino
Quote;"Adult entertainment is part of all European cities' cultures (except the Vatican City of course), past and present. " unquote.
Do you know that the biggest collection pornographic pictures one can found is at the Vatican?
The Law is the law. So, let the force do their job, sent that man home without any conviction. Have a laugh and wait till the next 'more Saintly-than-the-Pope-person' finds a new thing to make fuss about. Some people have to much time and nothing to do.

Nikolai Borg

Jul 25th 2009, 02:25

What an absolutely ridiculous case. People, their children and their grandparents all over the country have access to whatever porn, goverment secrets, information they want at the touch of a button and some guy is being taken to court for showing a porno film? According to a top web information country a porn site is the 21st most poplular website for Maltese internet surfers, you'd better start getting trigger happy with those charges!

Chris Mifsud

Jul 25th 2009, 02:15

Malta is the joke of all of Europe .

With our stale , old and expired dark ages laws , which favour the church , Malta has long been a joke and seems we will stay that way .

While all of Europe has divorce , abortion , sex shops round every corner etc... Malta still remains the prudest country in all of the world (except for the middle east) .

Scerri S

Jul 25th 2009, 01:49

Viva t-taliban. pathetic. leave the old man in peace.

John Micallef

Jul 25th 2009, 00:27

Nigustana fuq din l-art helwa, kulhadd ikun jafhom l-affarijiet barra il- Pulizizja!!! Din bhal meta resqu ir-Russi il-qorti habba l-hwienet ta' Paceville. Imma misthija nafu x'inhi!!??

Ara jghidulniex li il-pulizija hadet azzjoni ghax xi omm irapurtat li qabdet il- bina jiskarta l-iskola u hiereg min hemm. Nahseb imnalla ir-raid ma sarx fix-xitwa, ghax konna zgur nisimaw li xi 3 minorenni kien hemm gew!! u naf x'qed nghid

Alison Bingly (Australia)

Jul 25th 2009, 00:02

This has surely got to be a joke, a 67 year charged for showing porn, oh! listen to this, it all boils down to money towards the end doesn't @ 5000€ thats an expensive bit of film obviously not for the poor old chap but for some angel* no doubt and probably get a medal, i'm glad i don't live in your country, however i loved it last year but in my country we have REAL democracy not just a bit of paper to say that Malta is in the EU sometime i wonder if these people are for real. Take my advice friends try and concentrate on life and death matters such are the fast spreading of the deadly diseases, according to the latest BBC is now in ALL countries of the world, thats more important, another more important aspect is drivers under the influence of drink killing children, i just learned that in China a drunken driver who smashed into 4 people dead has been sentenced to Death.. so i think watching porn is nothing compared to the above news. Get a life! where is Progress in Malta? or is hot air.

A.Magri

Jul 24th 2009, 23:09

It seems like a news article from the timesoftaliban.com

Charles Sammut

Jul 24th 2009, 21:41

The police seem to be more interested in porno films than in possible corrupt practices in the MEP election.

I knew that the law is an ass but that doesn't mean that those who enforce it must also act as asses.

M.Degiorgio

Jul 24th 2009, 21:22

What surprises me most is how could silly cases like this be received by the law courts in 2009! What a laugh , if ridicule kills we will all be dead by now...

Lee Bucham

Jul 24th 2009, 20:29

Is this a new form of censorship. What next censored internet, newspapers, books, freedom of speech. Are you serious. i truly believed that tis country was maturing, obviously i was wrong.

Karl Consiglio

Jul 24th 2009, 20:18

What hypocrites. Thanks to the Nationalists, today we can all watch porn at the touch of a button, in the comfort of our own homes. The law just picks on the small guys.

Julian Carter

Jul 24th 2009, 20:14

@ C. Anastasi

Whereas yes, such measures (arresting a man for showing porn films) seem and are ridiculous in an EU country like ours, keep in mind that - unless I am mistaken - pornography is illegal in Malta. So technically if you watch such material - even from the comfort of your home - you are breaking the law, regardless of your age.

I think a lot of my friends break the law.

Miss.Sally Xerri

Jul 24th 2009, 19:58

I say ol chap this is getting a bit too much of a farce,where is one's freedom as long as they are not harming their neighbour as an ADULT person in their own right, where is democracy, i know Malta is a catholic country but things can get a bit out of hand and do more harm then good., besides there are far more important things t worry about then silly porn or whatever turns them on, who is worried, live and let live as long as they are within the law, and not turn trivial into something more sinister., how childish and small minded some people can get in this daying age is beyond me. Sally Xerri (reading phychology/Bristol University)

Andrea Pullicino

Jul 24th 2009, 19:17

City Lights Cinema is a piece of cultural heritage, probably the only place in Valletta still running after 30 years, without being exploited, changed or modernised. When we talk about keeping the City and its heritage alive we are talking about places such as this and we should not throw in the morality blanket. Adult entertainment is part of all european cities' cultures (except the Vatican City of course), past and present. As long as the age of the patrons is checked I don't see any harm that could come out of this, after all it is not adultery that is going on here which would be the real moral issue. If our laws are outdated by a couple of centuries, maybe it is time to revise them.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Jul 24th 2009, 19:15

I do not agree that projecting porno films should in any way be illegal.

However, if it against the law it is against the law and the police were duty bound to prosecute.

Why now after all these years is another question.

Stephen Farrugia

Jul 24th 2009, 18:40

Lol ili nafa mindu kelli 15 din tas CityLights... daqs kem konna nidhku naraw ix xjuh hirgin min emm!!!

Andrew Cachia

Jul 24th 2009, 18:38

Are we now living in IRAN

vincent a galea

Jul 24th 2009, 18:38

So this is Malta in the 21st century and a member of the EUROPEAN UNION.
Who are we kidding? Why dont we catch the embezzlers, the blasphemers, the VAT dodgers, the Income Tax swindlers, the abusers of power, etc etc etc THE PHARISEES!!

Kirstel Spijkhoven

Jul 24th 2009, 18:24

Sorry to poke my big Foreign nose into's Malta's affairs but come on am i hearing right or has some woke up on the wrong side of the bed in this heat, Is this China that i hear, Taliban as i read, or is it a misprint for this poor guy, come on we are all made of blood and tissue, live an let live as long as one is over the legal age of 18 and i see he is 67, gee how low can some authorities sink in this country. Let those without sin cast the first stone, well tell that to th Police, Doctors, Lawyers, politicians>>>> ie>Berlusconi!!! or even some men of the church. Can't believe what i am reading from the Maltese papers, ah well one learns something everyday no matter how old they are., Sorry guys but i think this is unimportant news!. Bon Jour mon amis. Kerstil Spijkhoven

adrian aquilina

Jul 24th 2009, 18:22

mr a gatt,watching porn has nothing to do with stealing or killing..thats the stupidest thing iv heard since the church put divorce,abortion and euthenasia together

Mr.John Donavan Galea

Jul 24th 2009, 18:07

Fined for Projecting porno films how very silly and trivial, well then ofcourse i forgot the Taliban system, come on there are more important news ie., the spreading of Swine Flu, unemployment and Death on our roads, really how childish or is it a question of money? sometimes i wonder. i think some people who have never venture out their own door step should spend a few years in Sweeden, Denmark,UK, Australia,the States, the list goes on, but little Mata is still little minded. Boy oh boy oh boy. i looked at the calender and it says mid.2009 then i read the story and i thought maybe the calender is misprinted and should have been 18th century. Just an opinion nothing less and nothing more from an inteligent person who got beter things to do.

GiovDeMartino

Jul 24th 2009, 18:06

If my memory serves me right, some 25 years ago (!!!!) the mowner of this theatre, or some other person responsible was also accused of showing porn films and he was granted bail for LM 400. Nothing more was heard ever since. Am I correct? Better late than never!!!!!!!!!

philip pace

Jul 24th 2009, 17:48

With all the nice talk of joining the European Union, back home we are still treated like children on any progressive topic that comes up including divorce etc. A few 'morally right people' govern on the many. A sheer bad example of democracy. We still have a lot to do to catch up with our European friends. And you know who and what is stopping us? Have a guess?

Dr. John Zammit

Jul 24th 2009, 17:47

Its funny that we did not learn that we are in the European Union now. How stupied of the police to take such action!?! Lately I was thinking what happened to my friend Alex and the City Lights? Now I know! Some crazy religious person has written something in "Il-Gens" or "Il-Lehen is-Sewwa"!!!!!

Alfred Gatt

Jul 24th 2009, 16:54

Ethical values remain values, whether now or 30 years ago. We will soon be condoning stealing and killing with the adage of one can do what one likes.

Mark Piscopo

Jul 24th 2009, 15:56

Only in Malta! Dear authorities please stop these stupidities there are far more pressing problems to deal with that these kind of trivialities.

P Debono

Jul 24th 2009, 15:49

Let mature adults do what they like if they are of legal age. But obviously, Malta being a Taliban state, the fundamental human right of freedom of expression is smothered.

smifsud

Jul 24th 2009, 15:38

i needed a laugh today and i got it ....lol....lol ....enjoy your weekend everyone and ...Forza City Lights!

brian grima

Jul 24th 2009, 15:31

Well Well Well! Horray stembahna nahseb. Dear authorities why stop some innocent fun.....isn't it better to check why syringe's are being dumped in Birzebbugia's beach. Mhux ahjar!!!!!

Saviour A Ellul-Bonici

Jul 24th 2009, 15:13

What a laughing stock. After more than 30 years of 'Citylights' we suddenly become even more prudish than we already are. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Malta has become the village idiot of the EU.

C Borg

Jul 24th 2009, 15:06

Action was taken only after someone very catholic not a long time ago decided to put pen to paper and write about this cinema.

Dear authorities please stop these stupidities there are far more pressing problems to deal with that these kind of trivialities.

Those who never went to this cinema (incl those holier than thou) please put up your hand. I would guess that the number of raised hands will be minimal

Marco Borg

Jul 24th 2009, 14:30

What a laugh!!!!!

I am 34 yrs old....remember this cinema since I was atleast 15-16 yrs old.

Why now after all these years??

C Anastasi

Jul 24th 2009, 14:21

So what ?

As long as there were only adults viewing... what is the problem? Anyone can watch porn from the comfort of their home.

Julian Borg

Jul 24th 2009, 14:06

This has been going on for decades; when I was a kid, it was common knowledge that they showed pornography at City Lights. and just around the corner from the police station in Valletta too.

steve busuttil

Jul 24th 2009, 13:52

Did it take so long for the authorities to find this out? Its been over 30 years that this has been going on, how come someone decided to take action now?

finally please explain how this is bad when in this age of internet one can watch frogs 'doing it' if that takes your fancy!!!!!!

There are much bigger problems than this in Malta, someone needs to get his priorities right!