Bus Association president denies defilement

Emma Xerri

Oct 20th 2009, 20:01

@Charles Zammit

I was not my intention to single out the Russian army during WW2. I was trying to make the point that when society breaks down into lawlessness, it is women and girls who are the first victims. This is true with every country without exception. This has been going on since the beginning of human time. I am sure that every other nationality is and has been guilty of this at some time or another.

Read here about the latest outrage;
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/16/amanpour.congo.rape.documentary/index.html

charles zammit

Oct 18th 2009, 22:11

why have you singled out the russian army during world war 2. while two wrongs do not make a right i beleive you are aware of what the nazis had done to the different people they conquered. for the records it is worthwhile to point out that the then soviet union had lost 22 million people during the mentioned war and it was the soviet army that broke the backbone of the nazi war machine.

marthese mussett

Oct 18th 2009, 18:25

The people I feel sorry for are his wife and children.Also am I the only one that thinks this is coincidentally happening while the great transport reform is going on?I am not saying that he is innocent or guilty...only he and God know that,but this matter needs a lot more investigation .Also I don t think it s fair that his name is published,he hasn t been found guilty yet.If he s guilty,he did a bad thing,but if he isn t ,his name will have been tarnished for nothing.And no apology or amount of money can compensate for that.

Emma Xerri

Oct 18th 2009, 16:36

@Liam Kelly

Another point I would like to add is that yes, I do think that Mr. Micallef is the type of man that I admire and wish that there are more of. My brother is another one like him. THowever, these are still in the minority

Regretfully, my own father does not belong to this group but to the most prevalent group which most men fall under worldwide. Even in America, Nascar, Strip Clubs, Extreme Sports, War Video games and "Slasher" movies cater for the macho-male's need for sex and violence and the chance of seeing blood and gore and where women are reduce to objects to satisfy the lust of men. Unfortunately, this is the type of society we are creating even in the so-called civilised West.

Emma Xerri

Oct 18th 2009, 15:14

@Liam Kelly

I am not generalising at all. In fact all you have to do is look at statistics worldwide. Just take look at countries where there is no functioning government, legal infrastructure and judiciary, like in many places in Africa for example. Men take women at will and would say that most babies born in such countries are the result of rape.

This happening even in so-called civilised countries when the social order breaks down, women and girls are the first to suffer. Look at World War II and the rape of women by the conquering Russian soldiers in Germany. And the same happened all throughout history.

My own father gave me this piece of insight into the male mind. He told me, "Do not believe that men really care for or respect women in their heart of hearts; for if it was up to us (men), we would 'take' every woman that pleases us. The only thing that holds many men back is the fear of the Law".

Now I consider my father an average heterosexual male, married with children and has never been in trouble with the law. So then he too must have been generalising.

D. A . Agius

Oct 18th 2009, 14:02

As for ALL cases, I suggest banning names being given out before proceedings are undertaken, but on the other hand, then, ALL names should be published (internet, obviously) for all types of cases where accused are found guilty.

Thus we remove the chances of people getting highlighted in the press which others are hidden away.

And in such offences, since the public is very much concerned, we suggest speedy justice, where evidence is heard straightaway, not dragging on for ages, and only waiting in the cases where psychiatric, medical or other expert evaluations are needed.

If an accused is found not guilty after a year or two or in some cases, even longer, wouldn't this have been gross miscarriage of justice as instead of having a presumed victim you are getting a real victim and if you have to start looking for an actual perpetrator too many time would have been already lost??

What happens in cases where potential evidence becomes known of during court sittings? If this happens one year or more later by that time that evidence might have been rendered useless, or got lost or hidden or destroyed. The injustice is again, management!

Emma Xerri

Oct 18th 2009, 13:33

@J. Micallef

You are right on brother!

It is funny but you sound just like my own brother who also blames 'testosterone' and the excess thereof for this and many other problems in the world. He works in the Courts and by observation came to this same conclusion himself too.

I agree totally with your last three sentences. Maybe you should be running for for Public Office so that we can make these mandatory by Law.

Liam Kelly

Oct 18th 2009, 12:41

@ Emma Xerri

You let yourself down with the last part of your initial comment.

First of all i agree with you on your first point regarding the lack of women commenting and speaking up on stories such as this. Personally i get the feeling that a woman more or less accepts the fact that this disgraceful behaviour/ abuse takes place and take it in their stride to a certain extent... That should never be the case for any form of abuse and the only way to stop it is to speak up.

However your second point is not only misinformed but very insulting. You say that we would have done the same thing if we knew it wouldnt land us in hot water? then a few comments later you proclaim to Mr Micallef that there should be more men like him just because he's told you he respects women? you should know better not to generalise like that.

J Micallef

Oct 18th 2009, 10:10

@ Emma Scerri

Yes, you have a point when you say that prisons are full of men with predatory insticts that they failed to control. I dont know if it an issue of excess testosterone going to their brian, but it is a problem.

It is also a problem when men think that they have some right to ogle at girls and women. If given the channce, yes, many would also try to have a grab at the sweet fruit. But not all are like that.

Comments and even looks are embarrasing, and the perpetrators do not realise hos silly they look were the situation not so serious. They do not only embarrass the victim, but aso those present.

'U ejja!' or 'u b'daqshekk??' are the kind of replies one gets when attempting to stop these idots on their tracks.

There should be more education, especially on teaching people their rights in respect of harassment and bullying.

This will need to be accompanied by harrsher sentences for the guilty.

But the first steps need to start at the early stages of life, when one lears that he has no right over the life of another and parents give good examples.

Tony Xuereb

Oct 18th 2009, 09:24

@ Chris Mifsud

Min jaf tirragunax l-istess kieku tkun int li jippublikawlek ismek fuq xi haga gravi daqs din . . . . u int biss taf li int innocenti ?? OK wara tohrog publika li int innocenti . . . . imma tahseb li id-dubju ma jibqax fin-nies kollha ta madwarek.... l-aktar Malta fejn kulhadd jaf lil kulhadd u s-seksik huwa hobby nazzjonali. jew min jaf tirragunax l-istess kieku allaharesqatt isib ruhu f'din is-sitwazjoni e.g. it-tifel tieghek? Le, zgur li tkun trid il-verdett ta HATI li johrog, qabel jippublikaw l-isem. Facli tpacpac fuq haddiehor.

Chris Mifsud

Oct 17th 2009, 20:41

I agree that his name was published .

If he is innocent he has nothing to worry about.

Emma Xerri

Oct 17th 2009, 19:52

@David Buttigieg

I do not think that I have already judged him to be guilty by my comments.

What irks me in this and similar cases is the one-sided comments made by the men and the lack of input from Maltese women. Don't any of these people have mothers, sisters and daughters?

At least the comments should be more balanced, coming from people of a modern European country. For example, the theory was put forth that maybe this man was being 'entrapped' by some evil scheming Lolita. Or that she was put up to it to ruin the man's reputation. Isn't this biased against the girl?

Again, I reiterate that I do not agree with the fact that the man's name was published before he was proven guilty in a court of law.

However, I know from personal experience that sexual harassment is endemic in Malta. I have worked in places were this went on unchecked and relentlessly, with managers and higher ups taking advantage of female employees, who for the most part where either too young or inexperienced to do something about it or too scared for their jobs.

It is the crime that dare not speak its name.

pauline ellul

Oct 17th 2009, 17:02

I simply cannot understand why his name was published, since for now he's not been proven guilty.
is there a hidden agenda in this story?

Emma Xerri

Oct 17th 2009, 16:50

@J Micallef

It does not follow from my comments that I would agree that a person’s name should be “shouted to the four winds ‘as you state, unless they are first convicted and proven guilty.

Having said that, yes I stand by my comments, and really do mean them.

In my ‘poor experience with men’, and if statistics worldwide are anything to go by, it is the men who are the predators that harass women and girls. Prisons are full of such men worldwide.

And I have made my comments here after observing time and time again, even in similar reported cases, that hardly ever a Maltese man comes out with an argument in favour of the young girl. They all care more about the ‘reputation’ of this man than they do about the safety and welfare of their wives, daughters, sisters and granddaughters.

Maltese women are complicit too by their silence.

However, I applaud you for being one of that rare breed that respects women and girls. I thank your parents for raising you like that, but God knows we need more men like you if we are to make this world a better place for everyone.

David Buttigieg

Oct 17th 2009, 16:03

@Emma Xerri,

What most people here, myself included, are saying is that yes, IF and WHEN found guilty then put a picture of him on the front page of every newspaper possible, with his address and any detail possible.

But there is also a possibility that one is found innocent and IF so, do you honestly believe it's OK to ruin him for life?


Nobody is defending HIM, rather the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

You have already judged him guilty, do you have access to information we don't by any chance?

We have had a precedent of a man being charged with rape, him being displayed on national TV and then found innocent after all.

J Micallef

Oct 17th 2009, 15:39

@ Emma Scerri

I add something to my earlier posting:

My voice joins yours to encourage all the ladies and girls, not to judge this person, but to speak up with the slightest hint of any sort of harassment.

Speak up early and take action before things get out of hand, as later it is difficult to get the solidarity needed.

My partner's been through it and it is tough, I can tell you.

JMicallef

Oct 17th 2009, 15:05

@Emma Scerri

I understand your position. I have had to bring to attention someone for sexually harassing a colleague at work. He ended up fired. Others got a stern warning and whoever wanted to play his games had to leave.

Does that mean that I should go out and shout their names to the four winds? The law states otherwise.

The law states that he or she is innocent until proven guilty. If you do not like that, try to change it. I am the first to champion harder sentences for those found guilty, but the facts must come first.

At first I though I'd ignore your last comment as you probably do not mean it, but if you do, then I am sorry for you for having had such a poor experience of men to have such a wrong idea. Or is it stigma?

I've been brought up to respect myself and respect others, whatever their gender or orientation. Perhaps today's mums and dads should work harder on that too, and not let some kids (and i said SOME kids, not ALL kids) grow up becoming tarts (hate to say that but it is true).

Good luck.

Emma Xerri

Oct 17th 2009, 13:35

It is perplexing to me why so little women have commented on this article. Why are women in Malta silent on this subject, particularly when it comes to protecting a young girl or woman from unwelcome sexual harassment and interference?

Come on ladies; make your views heard here too. We are after all the other half of the equation and we know very well what goes on. It is not like we have not all been there. If accurate statistics could be kept on this subject, it would be hard-pressed not to find a woman in Malta who has not been subjected to unwanted sexual advances, fondling or inappropriate touching by a predatory male during the course of her life.

Look at the men here, all sticking up for each other, and making all sort of excuses for this man, when they know in their heart of hearts that they would probably do the same thing if not for the fact that it could land them in hot water too.

Charles Grixti

Oct 17th 2009, 13:19

It is obvious that the underage girl was not a willing partner; otherwise she would not have reported him to the Police.

The girl, and I stress the word 'girl' here is minor, and would be in most countries except in Muslim ones were a child of 9 years is considered of marriageable age. And why is it that there was always some 'nefarious plot' being hatched to trap and ruin a man's reputation? The odds of that happening are slim indeed, whereas in most of these cases it is always the adult who the one is doing the hatching of plans and the scheming.

I agree though that a man should not be named until proven guilty.

However, there should be no such bans if the man is convicted and a commensurately harsh punishment should be mandatory and not the suspended sentences that courts here dish out. Then his name should definitely be made public and his whereabouts should remain known to the police.

Also, a National Sex Offenders Register should be set up in Malta so that parents can check with it to protect their children.

J Micallef

Oct 17th 2009, 12:05

Very conveniently designed grand plan...

Just when the public transport reform is about to be launched.

Joe Portelli

Oct 17th 2009, 10:49

Have no comment on the individuals , that's now in the hands of the courts - but whatever is criticised below, such as the naming of an accused surely helps serve as a deterrent to good people not top put themselves in any situation where such doubt about them could occur.

Avoiding such situation demonstrates common sense and also no intent , therefore no risk to tarnished reputation. Any other behaviour is eveidently not given beneft of the doubt.

M Saliba

Oct 17th 2009, 09:55

I do agree with most of the comments. This man's image and reputation has been damaged and cannot be easily restored.

Similar situations may arise in educational field: "In today's world all it takes is one false accusation of impropriety or molestation to ruin a teacher's career forever. A misinterpreted glance, an accidental touch, or a myriad of other things can easily spin out of control. Once falsely accused the teacher's career is ruined regardless of the outcome. Many teachers carry liability insurance for just such issues, but these policies only help cope with financial and criminal litigation. There is no insurance policy that can restore a damaged reputation."
http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/false_accusations_preventing_them

A. Mifsud

Oct 17th 2009, 08:13

Whilst utterly condemning any form of abuse - especially children, and favour maximum penalties if proven guilty - I wonder why in this case the accused identity was made public whereas in other occasions the court forbids publication of such details. Such happenings coincided with yesterdays' announcement of the public transport reforms, a body for which the accused is the association's president. Could there be a relation somwehere, between the two events.

F J Brincat

Oct 17th 2009, 07:56

Michael Neville Cassar : “whether as for the stigma for life, that’s his fault and no one else” I note that a long time has elapsed and you still have not come back to explain yourself.

This is NOT a court judgment yet. he has NOT been proven neither innocent nor guilty!

Noel Hili

Oct 17th 2009, 01:26

I agree that the name should not have been published UNLESS proven guilty by the courts on sufficient grounds without any reasonable doubt. If then it is proven guilty, then yes I agree to put his name on the sex offenders list, name and shame and publish his photo besides not letting him work with children or near children. Also, if found guilty, a considerable jail term will be expected as a detriment to him and other sex offenders.

BUT, if proven innocent or that the story was made up, then his reputation will be tarnished for life and in this case he would be the victim.

I think this reasoning is quite fair for both him and the presumed victim.

Charles Micallef

Oct 17th 2009, 00:40

We could do away with the Justice system in this Country and leave it to some of the bloggers.

I am under the impression that people are "innocent until proven guilty" in a Court of Law, but some bloggers cannot help themselves from being the judge and jury..............

a vella

Oct 16th 2009, 22:27

Having worked with children for quite a few years, i can say that today children are blackmailing adults by telling them that if they don't satisfy their requirements they will say that they were harrassed by them and ruin them for life. This blackmailing I experienced personally. So I would suggest that any child perpetuating this blackmailing, is to be made to pay for this and please no excuses that he is under age and so on ............

t. borg

Oct 16th 2009, 22:00

bil-pornografija fuq l-internet tfal ta' 12-il sena diga' jkunu esterti u jghatu skandlu lil ta' 60 sena. il-kodici kriminali ghandu jinbidel u jitresqu biss il-qorti dawk li jkunu ghamlu sess kontra x-xewqa ta' haddiehor. din il-hafna purita u oqbra imbajda iridu jispiccaw ghax qed nghixu miljun sena lura.

Michael Neville Cassar

Oct 16th 2009, 21:33

To all commentators defenders of honesty I wrote (IF FOUND GUILTY) as for the name being published it was decided by the magistrate. A 15 year old is still young and should not be abused. With the same argument that kids DO LIE ,we of older age ALSO LIE, the traumatic experience for a young girl / boy that they go through is beyond comprehension to understand .Yes I do believe for families to defend their children names of guilty paedophiles should be published with their photo.

Anthony Roberts

Oct 16th 2009, 21:28

I don't think that Mr. Spiteri's name should have been made public. Surely one is innocent until proven guilty.

Marcel Dingli

Oct 16th 2009, 21:11

Who knows ? Maybe its a made up story and a persons reputation goes Bang !! Some people HAVE been charged with invented crimes and there is no legal remedy for damages caused. Some have been charged on assumptions and suspicions without the Police providing one shard of evidence.

Robert Callus

Oct 16th 2009, 19:00

Agree completely with many of the comments here. Shaming people on the news, before they are found guilty leaves a person looked with suspicion all his life. On cases of sexual abuse the stigma is even worse.

Apart from that, it also makes it possible for people with evil intentions (Im not referring to this girl or this case in particular) to 'frame' a person even though they know he/she is innocent since while the court might find the individual innocent, the damage would have been done anyway

G.Debono

Oct 16th 2009, 18:55

Franco Farrugia,

Calling some kids liars in the same article where a kid is mentioned is tantamount to saying that this kid is lying. Doing the same mistake Michael Neville Cassar did (presuming that Mr. V. Spiteri is guilty)

You could have passed the same message (calling Mr. Spiteri innocent until proven guilty) without adding that KIDS do lie and they are not angels. So are big people Mr. Farrugia, they are sometimes liers, mean, devils and whatever.

Joseph Schembri

Oct 16th 2009, 18:20

It is despicable that in our country unlike some other EU members, magistrates whimsically order publication of names of the presumed innocent. Then the media, The Times included, publish them.

Meanwhile it is pertinent to point out that half this man's accusations could not have been made in many other EU states like for example Italy, where the age of consent is much lower than our ridiculously high 18.

Paul Barrett

Oct 16th 2009, 18:15

@ Franco Farrugia
You are absolutely right.
This man, guilty or innocent, is now tarnished for life.
Under the saying "no smoke without fire", even if the child recants, no one will believe that there was not something wrong.
In these totally paranoid times, any adult that at any time or any place allows themself to be alone with a child (or indeed children) risks being accused of assault of one type or another - there is no defence.

martin saliba

Oct 16th 2009, 17:30

@Michael Neville Cassar . He has not yet ben found guilty therefore he is innocent. What if he is found to be not guilty , his reputation would be ruined especially when this is no ordinary man in the street , he is the president of the bus owners association and now he will probbably have to resign in the midst of the recent Bus schedule proposal.. Men accused with similar crimes were not mentioned by name so as to protect the alleged victim , why not in this case ? Whats going on ?????????????

Franco Farrugia

Oct 16th 2009, 17:19

@ Michael Neville Cassar - I think you should try and understand more what people are trying to communicate to you. Nobody is saying that names of culprits should not be published. What is being said is that in such a situation and for such an accusation, the name of the accused should be kept under wraps because until such time as that person is found guilty, he is still innocent. For all we may know, he could be innocent - the victim itself! You should know that kids DO LIE and that many of them are no angels!

David Buttigieg

Oct 16th 2009, 17:16

@Michael Neville Cassar

"Whether as for the stigma for life, that’s his fault"

And if he is innocent? Tough luck huh?

Michael Neville Cassar

Oct 16th 2009, 17:05

J Micallef On the contrary to you; I believe it is a good step that names are published, so we can protect our children from such people. Whether as for the stigma for life, that’s his fault and no one else. I hope that this man, if guilty, will not be allowed to work near children within a mile.
I also expect that, if guilty, he is not to be allowed to work with the public transport and a photo is published.

Michael Mercieca

Oct 16th 2009, 17:05

I agree with JMicallef. It is not fair to slander a person's name and good reputation just because someone accuses somebody of something, especially in such a small country. I think it makes more sense to make such a report after the person is convicted of a crime!!!

Mario Gatt

Oct 16th 2009, 17:02

I agree with J.Micallef. Names should only be published when accused are found guilty.

JMicallef

Oct 16th 2009, 16:20

I abhor such crimes but still cannot justify that the name of the accused is published, especially since a stigma can be easily stuck to the person.

Even if he is found not guilty, the stigma will remain.

In the US, people and families were completely destroyed, even when the accusations were false.

This is still in the early stage of the case.