Vince Farrugia describes assault, confirms SMS messages meant for Joseph Muscat

GRTU director-general Vince Farrugia confirmed in court today that he had been assaulted by council member Sandro Chetcuti after he received an SMS message sent from Mr Chetcuti's phone and meant for Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.

Speaking during the compilation of evidence against Mr Chetcuti, who is accused of the attempted murder, Mr Farrugia , who had stitches above his left eye, said that on March 10, the day before the incident, he received a phone call from Mr Chetcuti who said that his mobile phone had been 'hijacked' and he had not written messages sent from it. At the time, Mr Farrugia said, he had not seen the SMSes. The two agreed to meet on the following day.

It resulted, Mr Farrugia said, that the SMS he had received was addressed to the leader of the opposition and revealed details of a confidential GRTU meeting.

Mr Farrugia said that the next day he had a meeting with a number of council officials including the president, Paul Abela.

Mr Farrugia said he had been sitting at the council table when Mr Chetcuti came in and sat next to him. Mr Chetcuti insisted that the others should leave.

Mr Chetcuti then insisted he was not the one who sent the SMS messages and produced Vodafone documents, but Mr Farrugia told him that those documents only showed traffic and did not prove anything.

Mr Farrugia said he was sure Mr Chetcuti had sent the messages - there was a series - because he had a unique way of writing SMSs, quite like the way handwriting identified a person.

Mr Farrugia said he told Mr Chetcuti that what he had done was very serious because the meeting was confidential, and council members now did not feel free when they spoke at such meetings. Furthermore, this would cause problems because the GRTU nominated people of integrity to serve on government and other boards.

Mr Farrugia said the council members had told him to warn Mr Chetcuti and to tell him he was considered a persona non grata, since he could not be trusted.

Mr Chetcuti was very agitated and accused Mr Farrugia of hating him and wanting to oust him.

Mr Farrugia said that as he rose from his chair, Mr Chetcuti grabbed him by the neck, and then let go. He then told him to get out of the office.

As Mr Chetcuti was about to do so, he suddenly turned back and punched him in the face with such force, that he fell to the floor, Mr Farrugia said. Mr Chetcuti jumped on him, punching him rapidly.

"I felt like a punching bag" Mr Farrugia said.

Such was the force of the punches that blood was even splattered on the wall.

Mr Farrugia said he would never forget the scene until he died. He said that Mr Chetcuti also kicked him on the side, damaging his ribs, and shouted 'noqtlok, noqtlok' several times.

The other council members then came in and pushed him away.

Evidence was also given this morning by the other council members. When one of them repeated how Mr Chetcuti had said 'noqtlok noqtlok,' Mr Chetcuti, who was in court, was heard to say 'veru' with a smile as he turned to his wife.

Mr Chetcuti was then granted bail against a personal gaurantee of €10,000 and a deposit of €3,000.