VAT cases: AG to appeal

lgalea

Sep 12th 2009, 17:03

m mifsud, Robert Sultana,
Do you call this Spanish Inquisition when the money was COLLECTED from the customers and kept instead of being passed on to the Government? Hope you are not saying so because you had a finger in the pie or took advantage of the system and fear being caught.
On the other hand the fines amount to OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT USURY and should be revised.

Bernadette Mizzi

Sep 12th 2009, 16:33

My tax is deducted from my wage before I get it....are we politely giving way to fraud,abuse of the system?
Does this mean the big fish..always goes off lightly and the little fish are made to pay bigger penalties if they get caught?....I wonder....what happened to real justice or is it just me thinking so......hmmm

T Cilia

Sep 12th 2009, 15:51

This is not tax evasion of a few Euro... this is a scam where corruption is the name of the game... corrupt government employees and corrupt businessmen! In my opinion they should be made an example of if we honestly believe in a corrupt free country and not fine them the "great" sum of €700!!! Shouldn't their possessions be confiscated, like in many other civilised countries?

P Magro

Sep 12th 2009, 15:11

@ Ganni Xuereb - Well said and perfectly explained

@ John Farrugia - You're free not to follow but I for one will not use the services of those who have been named in this scam. I'm no saint but I cannot escape the tax collector since all my income is declared and tax deducted at source.

m mifsud

Sep 12th 2009, 15:08

If AG gives in to public opinion, than he is a guilty as Pontius Pilate when he order Jesus Christ whipped and crucified.

gone are these times, the spanish inquisition, etc etc.

E. Azzopardi

Sep 12th 2009, 13:25

Correct and well done. The honest People are demanding this because they realize that these sentences are very light indeed. This does not give any motivation to the honest person but it does motivate dishonest ones. But can't we realize this, for goodness sake?
If I were one of these persons I would walk in shame in the street. But then some people have no self esteem or even self respect, so how can they show respect to others.
This country is REALLY going to the dogs!!!!

Deo Catania

Sep 12th 2009, 13:04

@ ALL It's useless giving harsh sentences to offenders unless Tonio Fenech resigns. how come such a scam was going on for years and no one noticed anything? As I see it these small businesses/self employed are just used to show the public that action is being taken since a businesss man told Tonio Fenech about the scam.

Edward Camilleri

Sep 12th 2009, 12:31

Ofcourse the AG should appeal. Before they return all the money stolen and given a proper punishment the AG should not stop. this was not a one time event, but a succession of ones.

Is it fair that citizens pay VAT in full when they purchase, either to be kept by businessmen or taken by fraudsters?

Gianni Xuereb

Sep 12th 2009, 11:59

Absurd absurd absurd. Some sentences did not even include a fine. The general interdiction is like Vince correctly described: a mosquito sting! So in this poor Malta a overspeeding is punished heavier than corrupting a VAT official. How shallow can we go ?

The interdiction can be easily circumvented. They would just sign contracts in the name of their wife/children, or a trustee. As easy as ABC! It pays to be currupt in this country.

Robert Sultana

Sep 12th 2009, 11:36

Its a shame to appeal Mr AG. Interdiction is not enough?? It seems that who's writing here does not understand what interdiction means!!! Mr AG, leave the pound of flesh alone please.

M. Debono

Sep 12th 2009, 11:18

In my opinion, we should abolish suspended sentences. They are not a punishment.

Instead of a suspended sentence, why don't we give these people community work like in other countries.

For example, instead of a 2 year sentence suspended for 4 years, one could get 200 hours of community work, which can be used to clean up roads, clean up after events, helping out by doing odd jobs at government schools, old people's home, helping out orphans or children in institutions, etc., etc, etc.

It will be more of a lesson, and at least they are giving something back to the community.

A Cassar

Sep 12th 2009, 10:58

@Malcolm Seychell
The goverment does not need to investigate what is happening in court....because court sentences are given according to what laws parliament legislates. If anything the minister should look into the law!
If a law states that for example (cos I don't know) you can get between 1 and 5 years for corruption, you cannot give the maximum sentence to everyone! You have to reduce sentence depending on the money involved, reduce further if it was the first crime, and even further if the person leads guilty!

If a judge gets 2 years in prison after being bribed to reduce a sentence of a drug trafficer....this magistrate cannot give someone who bribed an official so not to pay Euro 5,000 a similar sentence!!

Gianni Xuereb

Sep 12th 2009, 09:59

@John Farrugia:

The way you are speaking seems like you are a relative/friends of the accused. For me justice was not done. The sentence sent the wrong message to the population in general: .

J Farrugia

Sep 12th 2009, 09:43

And as regards amnesties which the Finance Minister has issued for payment of tax, he should be man enough to withdraw them immediately. Honest taxpayers demand so since they have to pay to the least cent and in time. There should be no discrimination and favouritism. Those who default without GOOD AND JUSTIFIABLE reasons should suffer jail. Otherwise the Minister of Finance should resign and give his seat to his Parliamentary Secretary. At least Jason Azzopardi is doing a wonderful job assuring that people's property is preserved and taken care of.

a.micallef

Sep 12th 2009, 09:29

jew kif jajdu.MIN MHUX HATI JITFA L-EWWEL GEBLA.sew ghid mr.farrugia "kull min jgholli jdejh ghandu xi jxomm

m mifsud

Sep 12th 2009, 09:25

for god's sake, leave these people in peace.

not all of them a criminals - some acted the way they did out of desperation.

YOU WHO HAVE NOT AVAIDED VAT IN ANY WAY, PLEEEEEEASE FEEL FREE TO THROW THE FIRST STONE!!!!

let's see : when was the last time you whitewashed yr home : did the bill include VAT? when was the last time you went to the barber or hairdresser and was given a VAT receipt? at the corner shop? haberdashery in the village? drink at the beach????? the list is endless, so hellllooooo of everybody

malcolm seychell

Sep 12th 2009, 08:51

The Minister responsible for Justice should investigate what is happening in the courts.

I think all honest tax payers had enough from our courts.

Justice is not being done.

It Malta it pays to be a criminal, and this is not sending the right message.

Parole my.... It is already almost impossible to finish in prison.

Mark mallia

Sep 12th 2009, 08:41

way to go AG

John Farrugia

Sep 12th 2009, 08:24

@ P Magro
I think the following statement "I will not use the services of those apprehended as I feel that I was cheated" is a bit of an over-reaction. We all try to be honest citizens give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar but lets be honest, most people have at one point in their life surely made a foul of some sort. So if one had to really inpose such a boycott, one can lock himself in a room and speak or meet no-body. I can assure all that apart from these few people who got caught there are thousands of others who in some sort or manner "CHEAT" !! This "CHEATING" or abuse as I woudl call it, could be in many forms, a list which is ENDLESS. So please let us not be drastic and start a boycott campain against these people, yes they did wrong but as the saying in Maltese goes "kull min jgholli jdejh ghandu xi jxomm" .

Michael Neville Cassar

Sep 12th 2009, 08:16

This is better news. Let us wait for the court result and see what criminals can really receive to fit such crimes, maybe then some of us will be trusting the balance of justice again.

P Magro

Sep 12th 2009, 08:01

It is very important that all taxpayers are kept informed of the criminal proceedings. The government must make sure that all monies are recovered with interest. Otherwise were's the deterrent?
I will not use the services of those apprehended as I feel that I was cheated.