Maltese man convicted of possession of child porn in Europe-wide operation

A. Fernandez

Dec 13th 2009, 18:22

No answers yet, so: Does anyone know if the age of consent in Vatican City is really 12?

A. Fernandez

Dec 12th 2009, 15:13

I don't think naming people to shame them is a good thing. Whilst it might be effective against some criminals, others may not even care or feel they are becoming famous.

Aside from that, we all know that the "I've done nothing wrong and therefore have nothing to hide" attitude is no good either. We all know that people all over the world, not just in Malta, are wrongfully accused and sentenced and put to shame or on some list.

I use the internet a lot by the way and have come across videos and images of most horrible things that humans can do to other humans - which I don't spend any time dwelling on by the way... but I've never come across any child-porn. Has anyone else here?

Chris Finch

Dec 12th 2009, 13:44

@Joseph Schembri, are you seriously condoning the actions of a paedophile? Some of the children involved in these images were under 9 years old. Did you not read the article?

Adultery which concerns 2 consenting adults, can in no way shape or form be compared to child pornography. Your statement is therefore ridiculous.

He should have been named so we would know if our children are living next to this sick individual. All I can think is that he is from some well connected family and so was afforded this protection so as not to embarrass them.

laurence schembri

Dec 12th 2009, 13:41

This is not an isolated case on child pornoghraphy, some 4 years ago we had a prominent man and a nurse inolved in child porno. What frightens me is that these people are roaming our streets.

l borg

Dec 12th 2009, 13:25

to mr salnitro
what you shoot a bird by mistake?
why do you go out with a shotgun then if it is not for killing birds ?
ALSO I AM ALL OUT AGAINST CHILD PORN AND IT IS SICK HOWEVER I MAY ASK?
HOW DID THESE PICTURES TURN UP IN THE INTERNET IN THE FIRST PLACE?
ALSO IF I AM ON THE INTERNET I SEE PICTURES OF WHOM I WANT AND WHAT I WANT AS LONG I DID NOT PUT THEM THEIR I AM DOING NOTHING WRONG

Joseph Schembri

Dec 12th 2009, 13:23

Pamela, The question to ask is why publish names and not why NOT publish them.

I did not mention divorce, but adultery, which amazingly was a criminal offence until 1973 in Malta. My point about this is that laws change but once you ruin a person's life by publishing their names there is no undoing.

Pamela Hansen

Dec 12th 2009, 12:19

I only asked a few simple questions, which have not yet been answered.
If he deserves anonimity we should at least be told why.
Divorce concerns consenting adults. Child pornography is something else entirely and children need to be protected.

Joseph Schembri

Dec 11th 2009, 20:54

Pamela Hansen: I respect your writing in the Malta Independent but I don't quite understand what you mean when you ask whether he deserves anonymity. Tell me, what news value, or more importantly, common good would publishing his name achieve? Until 1973 adultery was a crime in Malta. I am somewhat tempted to suggest that all adulterers should have their name published in the Times so that I can protect my partner from these predators. If we want to protect children it should be through educating them and certainly not by publishing the names of that tiny fraction of private individuals who were caught committing actions that happen to be considered a crime at this particular moment. Also remember,( not that is this is relevant, though it may be to some) that this fellow was 21 and in Malta his child porn according to our stupid laws might have been nothing else than 17 year olds.

MARIO SALNITRO

Dec 11th 2009, 18:00

TAJJEB IF YOU SHOOT A BIRD BY MISTAKE YOU CAN END UP IN PRISON AND FINED. THIS GUY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HARSHLY SENTENCED. TAL-MISTHIJA

A. Fernandez

Dec 11th 2009, 17:31

@ Joseph Schembri: I just read some of the things on that site. OMG! is all I can think of. Amongst other things: The age of consent in the Vatican is 12 (yes twelve!!!) and 15 if there is a dependant relationship like student/teacher according to wikipedia. Does anyone else know if this is true?

Pamela Hansen

Dec 11th 2009, 14:37

Who decides who to name and shame? Who is this young man related to? Does he deserve anonimity?

Joseph Schembri

Dec 11th 2009, 10:55

It is right at this point to define what child porn as seen by Maltese police is. I found an article about child porn made in Malta here: http://malta-exposed.blogspot.com

But it is not just Malta - there is the case of the woman who was arrested for taking pictures of her naked toddler son. There is also the case of the teenage couple who took naked pictures of each other. The female then emailed pictures to her boyfriend. He was accused of possession while she was accused of possession and distribution (because she emailed photos to her boyfriend)

Child pornography that involves forcing young children to perform sexual acts is a terrible crime. But be careful because some of you might have what the police call child porn on your PC if you have photos of your naked one year old daughter in a cute photo with a teddy bear. Such photos were very fashionable in high street studios until a few years ago until the hysteria set in.

Christopher Debattista

Dec 11th 2009, 09:53

There is no justice in this world :( One year in Jail is a big joke ! Shame on you after all what the victims passed !

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Dec 11th 2009, 09:26

I hope that this 21 year old male has restricted himself to pictorial pornography and not to actuating fantasies with minors.

What does “The man was also placed under a supervision order.” mean?

Are Maltese courts empowered to enforce at least an attempt at treatment involving clinical psychology sessions in such cases? If they are not then they ought to be. Is it just my perception or are law courts and society in general doing next to nothing to divert the attention of such people from minors to consenting adults capable of taking their own decisions?
Prison sentences – whether suspended or not – are not enough to deter potential child abusers. And we must all keep in mind that an abused child will not only suffer long term harm but is also more likely to consider abusing children himself when he/she grows older.

Carmen Vella Gauci

Dec 11th 2009, 09:11

One year in prison, suspended for three years. Does this sentence do justice to the victims ?? Does one really think a year is enough. All the work and investigations involved to hand down a one year sentence. Now lets imagine after one year...... Will the person repent his wrong doings or will he go back to his sick perverted life. A twisted mind can never think straight............
If I lived in dream land I would imagine that this person will come out of prison a new and better person, maybe even work hard to find a decent job............. DREAM ON !!!!

Anthony Borg

Dec 11th 2009, 07:05

"....sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years!!!???" - no wonder people break the law with impunity! As Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, rightly stated, "Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes ..."

CA Miller

Dec 11th 2009, 03:17

So basically this man was convicted of this unspeakably horrible crime under Maltese law and was given a suspended sentence. He would have received a bigger punishment for a parking ticket.

David Aguis

Dec 11th 2009, 02:09

"suspended for three years"... That is just a joke, are we brushing this under the carpet aswell. How can we teach people a lession if they have their identity hidden and they server no punsihment. This country is becoming more of a Joke each day.

mark busuttil

Dec 11th 2009, 00:31

name him and shame him!

Jesmond Micallef

Dec 11th 2009, 00:18

Apart from child pornography being a crime, it is also a "mental sickness". Such offending people should be treated as such and treatment should complement the sentence. This information should also be made public and not just what suspended sentence has been given.

J.Spiteri

Dec 10th 2009, 23:32

"Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes....". So why was the Maltese man convicted of child pornography sentenced for only one year ?

Ben Valletta

Dec 10th 2009, 23:13

very good job carried out by the Europol tgether with local police.......but come on....at such a serious offense he gets a suspended sentence??? what kind of sentence is this?? yet again his name was not publlished and so he is free to roam our streets within reach of our children......the courts need to wake up...and do their job too!!

clive borg

Dec 10th 2009, 23:12

to all@

in the third paragraph it is stated : ' no maltese children were identified' if you just read until the third paragraph!

Ian Abela

Dec 10th 2009, 22:38

So long as we're sticking to what the article tells us, I think if it says no Maltese children were identified, then no...no Maltese children were involved. Tiskanta.

Sometimes I think people just read titles of articles or reports, skim through them briefly, and just jump to their keyboards.

Deirdre Farrugia

Dec 10th 2009, 22:06

Ugh, I feel sick to my stomach

J. Grima

Dec 10th 2009, 20:49

He has been accused and convicted accordingly but I still cannot see the pig's name anywhere! Why?

Watching porn as such is normal, but child porn is just sick and we have the right to know this person's name so as not to have any children roaming around him!!

Joseph calleja

Dec 10th 2009, 20:48

If convicted, why not identify the person involved? Please give names so others will be aware of what happens to these low lives who get involved in Child pornography. Protect the children, by exposing these criminals.

John Falzon

Dec 10th 2009, 17:03

Were any Maltese involved and if so how many ?

Tanja Cilia

Dec 10th 2009, 15:57

.... in other words, is this another instance where the public's Right to Know is once more throttled by the Data Protection Act, as happens when one receives phone calls with withheld numbers?

C.Sammut

Dec 10th 2009, 15:01

Has this led to any identified or currently being investigated, child sex offenders in Malta? Were any of the children from Malta?