Gaming companies' lawyers not notified about court hearing
An application by the Attorney General to revoke an injunction issued against police action to confiscate gaming machines could not be considered yesterday because lawyers representing gaming companies were not notified of the urgent hearing.
The injunction was granted after police last Thursday embarked upon a nationwide crackdown on some 80 unlicensed arcades and confiscated 23 machines.
Eight gaming companies - Allied Games Ltd, Best Play Ltd, Gaming Operations Ltd, Media Gaming Malta EU Ltd, Laak Ltd, Vanguard Gaming Ltd, Zammit Videomatic Ltd and Silver Play Ltd - had requested the injunction.
However, last Friday, the Attorney General filed an application to revoke the injunction, contending that the owners admitted they were running gambling outlets without a licence.
Mr Justice Alberto Magri called for an urgent hearing on the case yesterday and heard the arguments of Attorney General Silvio Camilleri who said the police were carrying out their duty by confiscating the evidence.
However, when summoned, seven out of the eight lawyers representing the gaming companies failed to turn up because they had not been notified. The case was deferred to August 24.
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r ferriggi
Aug 9th 2009, 15:54
this is hilarious!! or....... more accurately ABSOLUTELY disgraceful.
for those of the public who did not realise, this is a move to give more time to said comanies and its owners to do what they have to do.
it is obvious that this was done on purpose.
unfortunately the dark hand of maltese society at work again.
Joseph Calleja
Aug 9th 2009, 15:29
It seems like the old theory again; BUSINESS AS USUAL AND GOOD OLD BOYS SYSTEM.
D. A . Agius
Aug 9th 2009, 12:03
Oh yes... the lawyers were probably busy elsewhere. However, may it be that this way they managed to get this issue stay unresolved until August 24? This has meant that police have to wait more than two weeks to continue confiscating machines, but, on the other hand, when the companies involved requested the injunction this was put in place immediately!
What guarantee is there that evidence will not be tampered? Why deferred to August 24 when this may have been done next Monday for example???