Caruana Galizia fined for contempt
Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia was this morning fined €50 for not turning up in court even though she was notified to do so.
Ms Caruana Galizia had been asked to go to court for the case instituted against her by the police for allegedly defaming Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera.
Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto had filed an application for the sitting to be postponed, mistakenly citing the sitting date as Friday, instead of Thursday.
The case has been put off to September.
Ms Caruana Galizia is pleading not guilty to defaming the magistrate in violation of the Press Act and harassing her.
If found guilty, she faces up to a year in prison and a fine.
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13 Comments
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Malcolm Mifsud
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:32
On June 1 last year I was handed a summons to appear in Court the following December for a silly case against a dog owner which has been dragging for more than what is supposed to be normal! On the day I was supposed to appear the presiding judge decided that he had too many cases to handle as he had two halls waiting for cases to be heard. My case was simply delivered to be heard the following February 9. I came to know of this by a piece of paper sticked to the hall's door. How much is the judge supposed to be fined for wasting mine and others' time in this way? Isn't this a case of the mighty bullying the weak?
J. Mifsud
Jul 2nd 2010, 20:30
Qarib tieghi llum deher ghal ma nafx kemm il-darba l-qorti fuq kaz zghir li gara snin ilu. Daqqa ma' titlax is-surgent, daqqa hekk, u daqqa ohra. Hu dejjem tela'. Jaghmel sieghat jistenna u l-kawza tigi differita. Illum qabzitlu ftit ghax gara l-istess. Il-magistrat bil-kemm ma' hatfitux ghax 'iggieled' ghad drittijiet tieghu.
Ara veru s-sahha jghamluha maz-zghir!!!!!!!
Il-magistrat imissha tara kif taghmel u jigi kkumpensat taz-zmien u l-flus li qieghed jitlef. Dawn mhux minn halq uliedu qieghed jehodhom??????
Veru li l-qorti trid tidhol biss meta ghandek tort!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mhux ta' b'xejn ftit ghad ghandhom fiducja fiha.....
Malcolm Felix
Jul 3rd 2010, 08:25
Malcolm Mifsud - A very valid point! Democracy is a joke!
Pule' Carmel
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:20
How about this. I once was informed to attend on a Friday and the sitting was held on a Thursday!.
They proceeded without me for I was an important witness!! When I turned up on Friday, they told me that I made a mistake and when I showed the Letter sent to me saying Thursday, I caught a smile on their face, so I concluded that there are intentional mistakes in this world.
Charles Sammut
Jul 2nd 2010, 12:16
Not only do I believe you, but strongly suspect that this is done intentionally and regularly. The system is heavily loaded against Joe Public.
Andrew Gatt
Jul 2nd 2010, 12:50
Totally agree. Just one bloated, fat racket.........and it's Joe Public who is the poorer for it.
Alison Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:04
I would agree with a €1000 fine if it also applied to the magistrate or judge when he/she did not turn up or cancelled during the last minute, or if it applied to the police when they do not inform you of a change, or when you're never called into the room to testify. If the law was the same for everyone it would be fine.
In defence of this particular case- €50 was paid for a genuine human mistake - Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto had filed an application for the sitting to be postponed, mistakenly citing the sitting date as Friday, instead of Thursday.
COME ON!!!
Andrew Gatt
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:22
Well said Alison. Our Court system is an absolute disgrace. 60 cases scheduled for the same time on the same day. Cases dragging on for decades. Umpteen no-shows by Magistrates, lawyers, prosecutors and police. NO accountability. NO benchmarking. NO timely justice. Cancellations/deferrals galore. No notification. No advance notice.
A disgustingly archaic system more suited to the middle ages than 2010. Is this the "court reform" that our Minister of Justice keeps gabbing on about? Wake up Carm - and sort out this overprivileged and untouchable racket.
D Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2010, 19:14
How could Ms Caruana Galizia have mistaken the dates when a look at her Running Commentary she repeats she is in Court on the 1st of July whilst replying to her fellow friends questions relating to her Court date .....Rather odd i think !
David Muscat
Jul 2nd 2010, 09:40
Mur gibni kont jien jew Cikku li ma mmurx gal xi kawza!!!! Kieku jzarmawni...u ara kemm pulizija wara l bieb tad dar!!!!!
M.Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2010, 06:01
Fined €50 for not turning up in court .....that's a joke!!!Kif tridu jkun hawn is serjeta!!
A. Borg
Jul 2nd 2010, 05:47
Last year my cousin wad fined €200 for not turning up in a case cited as a witness in a District sitting .Can anyone explain to me why not turning up in court infront of Magistrate X you will be fined €50 but not turning up infront of Magistrate Y you will be fined €200?
oliver mallia
Jul 1st 2010, 21:33
A perfect idea how court system works, and they kept me waiting for 2 hours, after I was told that the person vs me was recovering after an operation (qalet sufa operatio,n and transplant operation too!) It was postponed for 3 months. This is discrimination.