Update 2 - Arrigo sentenced to two years nine months in prison: court's considerations
Updated - Adds video
Former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo was today sentenced to two years, nine months in prison after having on Tuesday been found guilty of bribery, trading in influence and revealing official secrets in a case where an appeals court had reduced a drug trafficker's jail term. He was also given a general interdiction.
The sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo.
Dr Arrigo spent the past two days in hospital but this afternoon was taken to prison at Corradino.
Dr Arrigo had been convicted of accepting a bribe of €11,650 when he reduced the jail term of drug trafficker Mario Camilleri from 16 to 12 years after an appeal in July 2002. He was also convicted of trading in influence by trying to influence the other judges on the appeals court, and betraying state secrets when he revealed the court sentence before it was delivered.
All those involved in the corruption case, including former judge Patrick Vella, who also sat on the Court of Appeal, were jailed. Judge Vella, who admitted to accepting €23,000 in exchange for reducing Mr Camilleri's jail term, was sentenced to two years in March 2007. The third judge on the court, Mr Justice Filletti, was not involved in the bribery case.
COURT'S CONSIDERATIONS
In its sentence the court said the maximum sentence it could have imposed was four years and three months and the minimum was nine months in jail.
It said it had considered the gravity of the charges of which Dr Arrigo had been convicted and the fact that the Appeals Court had effectively come under the control of people involved in crime. This was very damaging to the judicial system and public confidence in the judiciary.
Were it not for the efficiency of the police and other forces of law and order, the damage would have been even greater.
Furthermore, the court had noted that the accused had not cooperated in the judicial process.
Mr Justice Caruana Demajo said one of the purposes of punishment was to bring about a reform of the accused, but in this case, the court was satisfied that Dr Arrigo would not follow the road to crime. The fact that a person committed a mistake, even a serious one, did not make him a bad person. Indeed, a mistake could help one to realise his ways.
In this instance, the court felt that the case did not stem from greed for money, but from weakness and bad friendships.
The court also appreciated that Dr Arrigo, through his resignation soon after the case was revealed, sought to mitigate the damage, which would have been far greater had he still remained in his post and the judiciary would have continued to be headed by a person under suspicion.
The court also noted that Dr Arrigo chose to hand the money involved in this case to charity, although, as noted in the verdict, the court was not satisfied over when that decision was taken – whether it was immediate or after the case came to light. The court, while not considering this in its decision to establish guilt, was considering it in the imposition of punishment. This behaviour contrasted with the behaviour of the person who had had spent the money given to him in a jewellery.
The court said that in considering punishment, it wanted to maintain relativity with the punishment given to other people involved in this case, as well as the senior position occupied by Dr Arrigo and his lack of cooperation with Justice.
It also considered that Dr Arrigo had suffered remorse, bad publicity, humiliation and a psychological trauma which had affected his health. It also recognised that his family was among the victims of this episode.
However, these facts could not replace the the punishment established by law.
The court said it would not give any instruction on how Dr Arrigo was to be treated at the prisons and would leave it up to the prison authorities.
*** ***
In his verdict on Tuesday, Mr Justice Caruana Demajo said he believed that Dr Arrigo accepted the money offered to him as a bribe.
Mr Justice Caruana Demajo said it was never contested that an offer of €23,000 was made to Dr Arrigo before the judgment and neither was it contested that he was a public officer. The court had no doubt that Dr Arrigo received the money.
Mr Justice Caruana Demajo referred to Dr Arrigo's testimony where he said that he repeatedly refused to take the money: "This was a tactical move, a prudent move, so that whoever made the offer would say that the accused did not want the money. If he really wanted to refuse the offer then he would have closed and locked the door to dangerous proposals such as these."
The judge referred to the testimony of middleman and a childhood friend of Dr Arrigo, Anthony Grech Sant, who said that on the day the judgment was delivered he went to the offices of Dr Arrigo's private company and put the money on a desk. Mr Grech Sant said that after doing so the two spoke to each other as if nothing had happened. This contrasted with Dr Arrigo's testimony, where he told the court that he was "flabbergasted" and did not know what to do.
The court questioned Dr Arrigo's version, saying that since the offer had already been made there was no need for the accused to be flabbergasted because "payment did not come like a lightning bolt out of the blue". The judge said he believed Mr Grech Sant's version.
"The court believes that (the accused) could not in his heart of hearts say with absolute certainty that the judgement (handed down to the drug trafficker) would have been what it is if what had happened did not in fact take place".
Mr Justice Caruana Demajo said Dr Arrigo had influenced Mr Justice Filletti and Dr Vella when the jail term was reduced.
In addition, he had revealed official secrets when Dr Arrigo told Mr Grech Sant that the jail term would be reduced the day before judgment was delivered.
74 Comments
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pawlu portelli
Nov 28th 2009, 17:58
Hbieb, ma jidrilkomx li issa gudikajna bizzejjed u dal bniedem haqqu issa ftit tan- nifs? Nahseb bli tilef f'hajtu u dabbar min dal- kas sofra bizzejjed.Min ahna hbieb ahna biex niggudukaw? x'konna namlu ahna kieku konna floku alla biss jaf .Mela nahseb li issa f'gieh is- sewwa wasal iz zmien li nifqu jekk mux b'rispett tieghu b' rispett tal- familja u povra mara tieghu.Min ghandu widnejh ha jisma.
Joe Xuereb
Nov 28th 2009, 15:24
@ Joe Camilleri. The good that the former Chief Justice did for the country? Sure, nobody is 100% rotten any more than anyone is 100% good. Any good that this now very ordinary man may have done for his country he chose to cancel at one stroke. With greed. Financial greed from a Chief Justice?! He let himself down and psychologically, a dragged a whole nation down with him. We call it 'the fallout of a skandlu' if I am not mistaken. Of course there was charity given, of course there were trips to Lourdes. Very lightweight. Because it is too late by then. How does one prove genuine remorse. It is not like taking someone's temperature. With a tangible instrument giving a tangible result. Most often, remorse is nothing more than a show, a regret that one has got oneself into trouble.
Sure one should forgive but one must never lose sight of the seriousness of a crime and its impact. A 'skandlu' indeed.
Joe Xuereb
Nov 28th 2009, 15:16
Of course one can be seen to be the victim of bad friendships. Very plausible with a five-year-old in the school-yard or an eighteen-year old frequenting some dive in Paceville. But a mature man, a Chief Justice to boot who cannot be wanting for a penny or two? I don't think so. Blame greed not bad friendships. That said I wish him a quick recovery so he can start his prison sentence proper.
I think it disgusting that anyone should even suggest that the Chief Justice should not go to prison. Being a good forgiving person is one thing. To be an ultra good person with an agenda is quite another.
The Chief Judge has made so much damage, not least to himself, that that alone deserves much consideration.
Julian Borg
Nov 28th 2009, 10:19
Re- Dr. Noel Arrigo. The sentence given to the ex Prim Imhallef is not the maximum but short. So far so good but what about other recent cases where suspended sentences were given to people with positions of trust like Dr. Arrigo.
M.Bezzina
Nov 28th 2009, 08:02
Ruth Taborska
Ahna mahnix nghidu li Mr.Arrigo muwiex ragel intelligenti ahna qedin nitkellmu fuq il kas iniffisu mux fuq il persuna....
Ukoll ma naqbilx li Mr Arrigo ghandu jidhol il-habs
X ghandu izjed min haddiehor biex ma jidholx il habs?Allura jekk naghmel xi haga simili tieghu jien imissu jkolli l-istess haga!!Jew jekk nisraq imissom ma jitfawnix il habs!!
Anka li bir rispett kollu lejhom igibom lil fr.Rene u lil Dun Gorg dalli jitkellmu fuq il persuna qabel ma inghatat is sentenza ghalija dan mux xieraq ghax dan kollu uwa marbut ma dak li twettaq fit 2002 u mux ghax ghamel kors fit teologija!!
Peter Mercieca
Nov 27th 2009, 23:28
@John Catania
Actually I would believe the complete polar opposite: the rest of the world would be appauling us! You and many more seem to forget that our judicial system has just put away one of their highest official, yes proving the basis of any safe and just society that functions on the rule of law - no one is above the law, judges included!
Malta has done well today.....lets hope it continues to clean more of its skeletons (Mepa, VAT....?)
Ruth Taborska
Nov 27th 2009, 21:49
jiena iltqajt ma Mr Arrigo u il-familja tieghu ghaxar snin ilu. dak kien zmien meta ir-ragel tieghi kien jahdem Malta u nista nghid li Mr Arrigo huwa ragel inteligenti hafna, u li dan li gara ma jixraqlux. nispera li il-familja kollha tibqa marbuta kif kienu qabel ma gara dan kollu.ukoll ma naqbilx li Mr Arrigo ghandu jidhol il-habs. R
Ruby Jenner
Nov 27th 2009, 20:39
I think giving a longer sentence to Dr. Arrigo would have been pointless. His punishment is his fall from grace and he will now be a social outcast. The shame and disgrace he has brought on his profession, his family and friends is a harsh punishment and he will have to face up to that. I hope he reflects on the grave error of judgement he made while he serves his time in prison.
Raymond Spiteri
Nov 27th 2009, 16:52
@MARIKA MIFSUD
I share the same opinion. You have said it all correct.
James Borg
Nov 27th 2009, 15:14
The whole world is laughing at us!
Paul Bonello
Nov 27th 2009, 13:15
I hope that the way the prison sentence is executed in this case does not prove that in our republic where supposedly "we are all equal at law", there are two prison regimes for different citizens: one for the common criminals who are transported in a prison van and stay at Corradino, and another one where the authorities prepare beforehand an exclusive place in one hospital or other, amounting in practice to house arrest, for the disgraced, but ever so powerful, people. The people will not take this if this were to happen because it smacks of a corrupt way of administering justice.
Neville debattista
Nov 27th 2009, 11:33
@A.Grech. Mela ma tafx li sargu xih jinqabad b'gamblu jintenn?
Kenneth Cassar
Nov 27th 2009, 08:36
@ Muscat. Pat:
"Since the guilty verdict concerned drugs, should.nt his property be confiscated?".
No, because neither the accused, nor his property was involved in any way in the selling of drugs.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Nov 27th 2009, 07:36
Has any body noticed? That Arrigo was travelling in a hired VAN why? was the CCF Van down?
Should a young boy get caught with a riffer, he will be thrown in the CCF van and be treated like dung.
Tony
MARIKA MIFSUD
Nov 27th 2009, 06:46
Do you all realise the high position Dr Arrigo held ?
Take these men arrested for stealing from the Zabbar Church. If they are convicted and sent to prison , people will say 'Shame on them' and leave it at that. However, if Lawrence Gonzi or Gorg Abela were convicted of the same crime don't you think they should be given a stiffer sentence ? Remember , we are meant to have trust and look up to these two men and they would have abused this trust. So I think the sentence should reflect the distrust in which they would have put the positions they occupy .
I have much more pity for a criminal from a deprived background than for a lawyer who commits a crime.
I don't see countless comments when a petty thief is sentenced to 2yrs 9mths. Why no pity for them and their families ? Families who often end up penniless.
As regards the 7 years of stress - Dr Arrigo used all possible strategies . Patrick Vella has completed his sentence and is now a free man.
Oscar Cassar
Nov 27th 2009, 01:18
what a shame
R.Gauci
Nov 27th 2009, 00:21
@ A. Bugeja
Of course that prison is not a picnic! If it was what kind of deterent would it be to keep people from commiting a crime?! That's why a lot of people like myself choose the hard way to earn money by working day and night and not taking any short cut and making money by detriment to others!! When you have been given a high position in our society,you are paid a good salary and perks but you have to accept the fact also to pay a high price if you failure to repay the trust you had been awarded by it, that is simple my friend and you don't need a high degree of education to understand that!
Everyone can make an error in life and no one is perfect but nothing is free in the world and there's always a price to pay for everything!! I don't blame the people at all for their reaction as common citizen have lost their trust in our law courts and this case didn't helped to change what a lot say "that you have to go to court when you are wrong and not when you are right!"
A Caruana
Nov 26th 2009, 23:05
Its amazing reading some comments here. I was wondering if there are so many saints on this island or so much hatred and condemnation for such a weak moment in a person's life (after all he is still human) where anyone could have failed to overcome. I wont add anything else.... just this one....
When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Robert Cilia
Nov 26th 2009, 22:24
If as argued by Dr. Mizzi we are all prone to error how can I and others be expected to trust our institutions? How can we be expected to have peace of mind that the persons entrusted with making decisions affecting our lives are doing so in the common interest? Yes Dr. Mizzi we are all prone to make errors but my definition of error does not include what the former Chief Justice did. By your definition even what the Irish Church has been doing is an error and nothing more.
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 26th 2009, 20:55
I do not think this man feels indifferent to his actions. He has a conscience and feels burdened by his guilt. He is a human being just like each and everyone of us. Yes indeed, Dr. Joesph Mizzi, may God have mercy on each and everyone of us, including myself.
Dear readers, we are a nation of values aren't we. Let us not forget that nobody is infallable.
A. Grech
Nov 26th 2009, 19:42
Li jinkwetant hu l-fatt li Drug Pusher irnexxielu jwaqqa fin-nassa lill-bniedem ta' kalibru u gherf kbir (Dr. Arrigo). Mela x'kapaci jghamel Drug Pusher bit-tfal taghna?
A. Mallia
Nov 26th 2009, 19:19
Intant sorsi infurmati li tkellmu ma' dan is-sit qalu li Noel Arrigo qed jinżamm fl-Isptar Monte Carmeli fuq bażi indefinita' u jinsab taħt ir-responsabbilta' tal-Faċilita' Korrettiva ta' Kordin ( http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=L%2Deks+Prim+Im%26%23295%3Ballef+ikkundannat+sentejn+u+disa%27+xhur+%26%23295%3Babs&t=a&aid=99816720&cid=39 )
P.Gauci
Nov 26th 2009, 17:21
@A.Bugeja
He deserved a much harsher sentence. I'm sorry for him but he brought it on himself. What he did was an extremely serious offence. However it seems that in Malta there are still people (like you) who have no idea what accountability is all about.
Charles Sammut
Nov 26th 2009, 16:52
Some of the comments offering support and solidarity for arrigo are so pathetic,that they make me want to vomit!
Presidential pardon...?? What good did this guy do for the country ?? ... joe camilleri..are you serious or are you just being funny ???
An illegal immigrant was sent to prison for 6 months because he tried to escape from Malta..and the guy who brought shame to the highest office and made a mockery of the Maltese Judiciary gets 2yrs 9mths ( before parole ).
What is also interesting is,how come neither he nor the other corrupt person got fined at all.
Of course,he will be a good boy in prison and the 2yrs 9mths sentence will be trimmed somewhat !
Charles Sammut
Mario Borg
Nov 26th 2009, 16:49
What a pathetic paltry senence.Whay kind of sign does this give to the population?
Laughing in the face of Justice. You get more for shooting down a sparrow in some countries.
Paul Ciantar
Nov 26th 2009, 16:48
for those who think this is not a very serious case... I suggest that they look on the search engine .. list of noel arrigo sentence... and you will find that this news has been given wide coverage in the world from times of india to taipei to mexico to canada to us to uk just to mention few of the 136 newspapers i have counted so far. Not even the entrance of Malta in EU was given such coverage
James Aguis
Nov 26th 2009, 16:29
In my opinion Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo was driven with his conscience when he handed down the sentence. It may sound as a "light" sentence, but in reality Dr. Arrigo already went through a lot!! I do hope that all cases are treated this way, as sometimes the law does not apply and thus one needs to base his decision on facts and one's values.
Muscat. Pat
Nov 26th 2009, 16:13
Since the guilty verdict concerned drugs, should.nt his property be confiscated?
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 26th 2009, 16:00
And if the drug pusher remains a drug pusher, would not the jail term have failed to reform the person? Would not all the money from the taxpayers' pockets to keep him in jail have gone down the drain? If drug users did not have to make hefty payments to drug suppliers, how many robberies and breakins would have been avoided, and how many persons quietly at home would have been spared the terrible experience of being robbed, if they survive the terrible treatment? And how many victims got their money and their possessions back after being robbed? Would there be more drug users if it would be possible to procure the substance from a chemist at a reasonable price? There would definitely still be drug users; there will always be people who would like to experiment. A number of poets and writers from time immemorial used to take opium. Should one educate people about the harm of abusing drugs and let them be, in the same way that adults are free to watch pornography on the internet and smoke tobacco and consume alcohol without ending up in jail unless they drive under the influence?
E . Vella
Nov 26th 2009, 15:45
@ Rose Agius
Quote "Criminals take a prison term in their stride but an honest man surely suffers much much more."
Can you please elaborate who the "criminals" are?
And who "an honest man" is?
Quote "Let those without one single guilt throw the first stone."
According to you should the quote above be inscribed on the law courts doorstep?
J Galea
Nov 26th 2009, 15:42
Has anyone stopped to consider the harm this conviction has done to the reputation of our country and its judiciary as a whole? Is the sentence sufficient warning to today's generation of lawyers, magistrates, judges, police and civil servants? Will the prosecution be filing a cross appeal arguing leniency of sentence as one would expect? No offence to the presiding judge, who seems to have handled this very troubling case very well but the public in all the circumstances has every right to ask questions about the sentence handed down.
Dr Joseph Mizzi
Nov 26th 2009, 15:34
This man did not only get imprisonment for his mistake -- he lost his office, his reputation and brought untold pain to himself and his family. Justice was done. But I sympathize with him; he, like myself and the reader, is prone to error. We have all sinned against our Maker. May God have mercy on us all.
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 26th 2009, 15:08
Reading comments that cry for a longer sentence leads me to ask whether some people are not after blood. I can sympathise with relatives of people who are serving time because they were found in possesion of a small amount of what has been classified as illegal drugs. Should stuff like cannabis for example be considered illegal and if it is, should a person who is smoking it quietly and/or sharing it with a couple of friends be sent to jail? What harm has such a person done to society, and would sending him to jail make him a 'better' person, or make him hate society for the rest of his life and make of him a hardened criminal who will not stop at anything? And wouldn't it be better in this and other similar cases for the person to be made to do some community work instead? As for drug pushers; isn't the business of pushing drugs so financially rewarding because the drugs are illegal? Would there be drug pushers if drugs could be bought from a pharmacy? And do drug pushers leave the business when they are in jail and when they are set free?
Kris Scicluna
Nov 26th 2009, 15:02
@ A Bugeja - perfectly agree with you
@ M Debono - please tell me you're not being serious. he was only taken to hospital because he was feeling unwell. he wont be staying there for 2 years 9 months!!
Christopher Formosa
Nov 26th 2009, 15:00
The uneducated mob justice mentality revealed by many of these comments, whilst unfortunately rather common on online message boards, is still truly disturbing
Bis serjeta? Inti edukat imma siehbi,intix habib tijaw allijistajkun? Skuzana mela habib hux ax ahna li niktbu aw nies komuni mhux edukati bhalek.
P.S. disturbing kumment bhal tijak habib.
Rose Agius
Nov 26th 2009, 14:58
The people in the street are being robbed every day by business people through over charging, shop keeprs who under wiegh goods they sell, bus drivers who short change the foereign student s and tourists on a dialy basis, restaurants who give sub-standard meals and bad service but charge a high price, the list goes on and on. We seem to macccept these things and do not protest much about it though we do grumble on a daily basis amongst family and friends..real Maltese gemgem.
This was a moment of weakness instigated by bad friendship so please let us pray for Dr Arrigo, for he is surely suffering terribly for this hour of madness and most of all for his family who had absolutely no part in all this. Criminals take a prison term in their stride but an honest man surely suffers much much more. Many have done some terrible things but were never caught out. Let those withou one single guilt throw the first stone.
Adrian Vella
Nov 26th 2009, 14:48
I Adrian Vella, residing in St. Julians am certainly not of the opinion of the other adrian Vella who wrote below. In my opinion Dr. Arrigo had a lousy friend who abused of his friendship and compromised him. I do not agree with the sentence given at all.
T.Bezzina
Nov 26th 2009, 14:23
The moral of the story (in addition to the recent vat department scandal) . Try to steal, if you don't manage bribe someone which at worst will not cost you more than around 5 years in total. But then you will keep the money. I think the local justice already knows that people have no faith in it but shouldn't all this feedback indicate that we need a proper justice system in Malta ? or are we giving the opposite message which is to commit crimes. It is not fair at all, especially on the police and other forces of law which make huge efforts to unmask such instances.
A Bugeja
Nov 26th 2009, 14:10
The uneducated mob justice mentality revealed by many of these comments, whilst unfortunately rather common on online message boards, is still truly disturbing.
Prison is very far from a picnic - as anybody who has been in there would tell you, it is one of the more horrifying experiences a person can go through. Put yourself for a moment in his position. Going to jail for a week is bad enough; this man has been sentenced to almost three years. That on top of seven years of psychological distress, public humiliation, the loss of his position, and the pain of seeing his family having to endure society's glare with him. It certainly seems to me he is paying a steep price for his mistake.
I hope Dr Arrigo and his family find peace and I personally wish him a swift and speedy reintegration into society when this collective trauma they are all having to live through is finally over.
Anna Ellul
Nov 26th 2009, 14:08
I dont envy the difficult job Justice Caruana Demajo had and his seems like a wise and reasoned judgement. The sentence he gave was within the parmeters of the law. I would have thought Arrigo would have got the maximum considering he was the chief justice and he assisted a drug trafficker. The problem here was the relativity to the other judgement which was too low. That the maximum itself is too low is not the judge's fault - legislator please wake up and revise our laws - the maximum in most cases is too low when considering the harm done to society. Judges please exercise some restraint when handing out suspended sentences. The wrong message is being given - on the offchance you get caught you might as well commit the crime, for if you do the punsihment is low. Havign said that I have two questions:
1. did the other judge repay the money he spent on the jewellery? this should go to the public coffers.
2. will this hospital time count towards Arrigo's sentence? surely not. Also Dr Arrigo should pay for the costs he is burdening us with.
Chris Mifsud
Nov 26th 2009, 14:06
The court should have taken in consideration all the good and charity that Dr Arrigo has done. Yes he DID make some mistakes which are very serious, but it was NOT out of greed or anything like that but more out of being found in a moment of weakness.
Come on? Not even rapists and child molesters who are much more likely to re-offend are given 2 years and 9 months.
I believe Dr Arrigo should recieve a Presidential Pardon and be allowed to continue with his life, or at least a suspended sentace and maybe the general interdiction.
Jan-Wouter Stigter
Nov 26th 2009, 14:06
Everyone knows about this case, most people will recognise Dr. Arrigo wherever he goes. That makes the guilty verdict a life sentence in its own right.
Vincent Galea
Nov 26th 2009, 14:04
All this hell could have easily been avoided by using one magical word.
A man approached the oldest wise man of the village " What can I do to silence my inner voice? " asked the man. When the wise man replies that this voice might never be silenced.
the man exclaimed:
But it's driving me crazy. Is there any advice that can help me overcome it ?
" Ah overcome it " mused the old man. " Overcoming the voice is not hard at all. There is but one magical word and when you say it, the voice is instantly overcome. It doesn't go away mind you. It rarely ever does, but it can be overcome "
One magical word ? Only one ?
" Please share it with me " the man begged. The old wise man smiled and firmly
replied " No "
" Why not ? please I beg you on my knees ... please "
" No " replied the wise man.
Crestfallen the man tried to leave when the wise man whispered in his ears " No "
One uncopromising ' No ' is the magical word.
Rita Camilleri
Nov 26th 2009, 14:01
please tell me this is a joke !!!!! No it isn't, is it ???? whey do we never learn ????
EmanuelLolly) Camilleri
Nov 26th 2009, 13:55
I really want to congratulate judge Giannino Caruana Demajo for the courage he had to face Chief Justice Noel Arrigo (a position he should never had been given) and Judge Patrick Vella.Judge Caruana Demajo will always be remembered for something that will rarely happen,but i was hoping to hear a much tougher sentence for what these two greedy judges have done especially a drug case when we parents cry our heart out when we hear someone dies with an overdose.When someone is sent to Prison he is called a CRIMINAL a word which he carries all the rest of his life.
david calleja
Nov 26th 2009, 13:55
@M Vassallo
That's not really the point is it?... Without going into detail, the whole point about this case was that the person involved was our CHIEF JUSTICE - now it's already bad enough when ordinary people break the law - when that happens, people like the former Chief Justice are specifically enthrusted with powers to ensure this is punished.... so in reality, when the Chief Justice himself stumbles it's much more serious - the very foundations of our whole structure are shaken - which is why so many people are outraged at the lightness of the sentence - the messages being sent to the ordinary people are all wrong... as another correspondant said - when Justice stays blind and the workings of the law are assine - then there will be serious issues...
Ian C Ellul
Nov 26th 2009, 13:47
What was that word?? Accountability??
C Vella
Nov 26th 2009, 13:47
What comes to mind are the uneducated and poor, who lose the right track simply because they were momentarily weak. (as M Vassallo puts it). They get caught and put in prison. These people too have families, dignity, etc. the only thing they do not have is a position in life where people from all strats of life come foward to defend them. The fact that the money Mr Arrigo accepted, were from drugs, and he was also doing a favour to a drug pusher is to be deplored. People in his position (and those who are defending him) should know better. Is it possible that Mr Arrigo who was heading the Family court at some time did not come across the distruction that drugs bring to these families?
Mario Attard
Nov 26th 2009, 13:41
And once again we witness Orwell's famous saying, " All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
Do you call this justice? How many people have committed smaller crimes and got longer sentences? We are talking of a CHIEF JUSTICE here !
The effect of this crime on society is much greater. People will surely ask: Can the justice system be trusted? Can it truly protect us?
Paul Ciantar
Nov 26th 2009, 13:31
what a shame .... the law is an ass
ray sacco
Nov 26th 2009, 13:26
of course he will appeal,. this was the third most powerful man in the country. he was very well paid to protect the honest citizen of this country, but he did the opposite. in only a few months this is the fourth comic tragedy from our court rooms:
1st. the other judge involved in this case walks out of prison just after some months!
2nd. a convicted british drug smuggler caught red handed gets a 'get out of jail free' card!
3rd. vat scandal employees get away with only a petty fine!
and now this joke!
and you want us to believe in our justice?
M. Vassallo
Nov 26th 2009, 13:12
Without in any way denying that accepting money to assist criminals is very serious, I invite all those who have commented so negatively on Dr Arrigo's plight to look themselves in the eye and truly confess to themselves how many times they have lost the right track simply because they were momentarily weak. Remember: 'Anyone amongst you who is not a sinner, throw the first stone [at the sinner in front of Jesus]! The quality of mercy...falleth like the gentle dew from heaven...
M Debono
Nov 26th 2009, 13:07
@ K Scicluna
Did you see the below from the Times? Hospital was mentioned not prison!!!
[Dr Arrigo's defence team have already indicated they will appeal. The former Chief Justice spent the past two days in hospital and is also believed to be going back there]
John Agius
Nov 26th 2009, 12:59
Delivering justice is no easy task. Yet, I am certain of the great wisdom of Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo. There is none and there can never be ‘equal justice’. Punishment can neither be just nor equal for someone willing to reform and another who is incapable of reform, even if they commit the same or similar mistake. I empathize with the judges entrusted with the difficult task for delivering justice. Everyone is subject to mistakes. Let us not judge.
Kris Scicluna
Nov 26th 2009, 12:52
one might think that he deserved a harsher sentence, but trust me 2 years 9 months behind bars with the other inmates for a person of Mr. Arrigo's calibre and status may have drastic effects on him. In my opinion they are enough to make him pay for his mistake and also help him realise that the wrong he has done - which, i think, is the court's aim when sentencing anyone to jail - punishment + reform.
joe vella
Nov 26th 2009, 12:51
two common sayings:
the law is an ass
justice is blind
any contestations?
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2009, 12:48
@ Joe Camilleri - What good did he do the country? And what about the scandal that he caused!
J.Camilleri
Nov 26th 2009, 12:45
It's only justice if at least the the four years that were bought by the drug trafficker be given also to the one who took the money, right?
Joe Portelli
Nov 26th 2009, 12:23
A good verdict, and one that Maltese people should be proud of , but nevertheless a brave verdict until such times that drug related crime is seen as to what it really is and anyone with any notion of being blinded by money from the depraved drug addicsts directly or indirectly should know, Malta and its Police will stop at nothing to demonstrate a deterrent exists.
Many people who have fallen from high places can do a lot of work for charity, dedicte their lives to help thos in need, so this convict can do the same if he wishes to gain society's respect once again and his family name.
Leon Zawadzki
Nov 26th 2009, 12:11
Finally justice has been done, or has it ? Only one case has ever surfaced to reached the courts, was this a one off situation or the first of many. Will the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici be bold enough to review cases of appeals that have been overturned by either so called Judges Noel Arrigo / Patrick Vella ? Until this is done, the People of Malta will never have trust or have faith in the Judicial system of Malta.
Equal Justice should be for everyone, not just the few.
Mike farrugia
Nov 26th 2009, 12:10
So how much is he going to cost me as a taxpayer? €160 a day for the bed and 3 shifts of police surveillance. Will he be given the bill when he comes out of hospital or will his insurance foot the bill?
Edward Fenech
Nov 26th 2009, 12:10
An 18 year old selling joints to his mates for 2 pounds spends a longer time behind bars!
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Nov 26th 2009, 12:05
I am sorry when people make such serious mistakes and they have to pay for it. It is necessary, however, that they pay for it. In his former capacity as former Chief Justice, Noel Arrigo should have known better and thus, having broken the laws which he in his capacity had the right to uphold, was the lawbreaker himself.
As a person, I forgive him. Still the sentence is too small. The case was too serious knowing the persons involved.
Carla Mifsud
Nov 26th 2009, 12:05
He should spend life in prison for what he did! not just 2 years and a bit. This is ridiculus!
Peter Murray
Nov 26th 2009, 12:02
What a parody and a sham of an appropriate punishment deterrent and what message does this paltry sentence send out to other corruption perpetrators?.A sentence for this irrefutable crime , and dispicable betrayal of public trust by one of our highest ranking judiciary officials, of up to 8 years could have been handed down yet we have this judgment whereby with good behaviour Arrigo will in all probability be out by next Xmas!
Tony Borg
Nov 26th 2009, 12:01
Justice!! Finally I can start to believe that we are all equal when it comes to our Laws
Joe Muscat
Nov 26th 2009, 11:59
As others , I have expected at least the maximum sentence and not only two years and nine months. As the prosecution had said, the Court had to give an example in this trial, and yes, it had to be treated differently than others. The gravity of this case was too much and something had to be done to give back the trust of all towards our justice system. I am very disappointed.
Christabel Psaila
Nov 26th 2009, 11:54
Is this a joke??? He should have gotten at least the 4 years he reduced. This is more a mockery than jutice.
J. Busuttil
Nov 26th 2009, 11:51
Unbelievable ... 2 yrs 9 mths ... for bribery, trading in influence and revealing official secrets and Patrick Vella, who plead guilt got 2 years for bribery .... I mean seriously is this the example they want to set ...
K Zammit
Nov 26th 2009, 11:51
and you call this justice ??????
J Farrugia
Nov 26th 2009, 11:49
The people have no faith in our law courts. No wonder why. 2 years 9 months is not a true and just punishment for the one who rocked the law courts and the justice system of Malta.
adrian vella
Nov 26th 2009, 11:46
This sentence is an incentive for top people to accept bribes - the little faith i had in local justice has now been completely lost.
Joe Camilleri
Nov 26th 2009, 11:41
He should be given a presidential pardon.
The good that he done to the country should not go up in smoke.
JPisani
Nov 26th 2009, 11:40
Laugh out Loud @ 3 Years!!