Appeal filed in electoral corrupt practices case
An appeal has been filed against a court decision which found that a man was not guilty of electoral corrupt practices involving his employees at the last general election.
The case had been filed following a report tot he police by Labour MP Anglu Farrugia, against Pierre Bartolo.
He was accused of having threatened his employees Kristylee Bezzina and Anthony Zammit, in order to vote for the PN during the general election on March 8, 2008.
The Office of the Attorney General in its appeal said that the first court had made a mistaken or incomplete appreciation of the evidence and had not allowed the prosecution to cross-examine Kristylee Bezzina on the basis of a statement she had previously made.
It had resulted that Bezzina first said she would not vote. Then her employer phoned her mother to check that she had not lost her voting document, as she had claimed. When he was told that the document had been found, he drove Ms Bezzina to the polling station during office hours so that she could vote. He also told her that if the Labour won the election, she would lose her job.
It was also observed that the first court had declared that the fact that somebody encouraged somebody else to vote and provided transport for this purpose did not constitute a corrupt practice, and this was actually something which even the electoral office and the political parties did.
This, the Attorney General said, did not hold water since Mr Bartolo had gone beyond simply encouraging another person to vote. The electoral office and the parties provided transport to those people who would have already have decided to vote. In this case, Ms Bezzina had decided she did not want to vote and had not requested transport.
Dr Leonard Caruana signed the appeal
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jcamilleri
Jul 30th 2010, 22:27
@Pat Hobson
You got it all wrong, dear friend.
Mr Seychell is right. PN clubs were on fire in 1976 (1996 is a misprint, can't you see) It was the reign of terror then 1971 to 1987. Ma tistax tmeri.
J. Mifsud
Jul 30th 2010, 18:38
Whatever the outcome of the Court's result for the Attorney General's appeal, Dr Anglu Farrugia's case is justified in the eyes of the man in the street. This appeal has given a boost to Dr Farrugia's plea. We, the people who really know Dr Farrugia, can vouch for his honesty. Others, can only quote 'his master's voice'. The crusade for the assissination of his character has already started, but Dr Farrugia is not made of straw, and the love he has for the workers has no limits. It will only make him stronger. Thanks, Dr Farrugia, and all the best for the future.
michael seychell
Jul 30th 2010, 18:36
To all those who are saying that I was there during the Mintoff-KMB-MLP Regime. I have always stated that I was an active member of the MLP/GWU since I was about 16 years. I have mentioned also that during the elections of 1971 and 1976, I formed part of the drafting commission of the Labour manifest representing the GWU, and I can assure one and all that I do not regret having worked in the Labour Movement, in the interest of the workers. I have also stated many times that I started having different toughts after the 1996 election victory when I saw so many PN Clubs on fire, however when Mintoff stated that he knew who were the perpetrators and will not allow similar incidents to happen in future at the Marsa Press, I believed him, but instead the MLP in government turned to a GEGIME. I left the Labour Movement in 1977 - 33 years at the end of this month, and theerefore I WAS NOT THERE WHEN THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT BECAME A REGIME. I am Now a PN activist which have taken care of the underprivilaged much mre than the MLP. Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
Pat Hobson
Jul 30th 2010, 21:39
You said that PN clubs were burnt after the election of 1996! You must be joking. There weren't any clubs burnt. Either you were imagining things, or your PN was brainwashed! The violence against the labourites started again in 1998, when this was termed by the then PM EFA,, a state of euphoria! You're really hate us labourites. But don't worry we don't hate you!
J. Mifsud
Jul 30th 2010, 22:19
According to the Oxford Dictionary the word REGIME means method of government; prevailing system.
Many bloggers here are definitely not dolts. We know our history and can read between the lines.............
You have your reasons for leaving the PL, but we might have our reasons for either laughing our hearts out or cry.
Therese Zammit
Jul 30th 2010, 17:35
So Anglu Farrugia was right all along! And this is not Labour stating that but the office of the Attorney General! Thank you Dr. Anglu Farrugia for being the only honest politician to defend the interests of all voters in the Malta of today. For those of you blue bloggers who cannot still understand the meaning of the AG's comments today, read them in their entirity and you will immediately realise that the stand that Dr. Anglu Farrugia took on the subject in question has been more than vindicated. I had moments when I thought that both local parties are becoming too close to each other and that no real distinction can be sought between them. Anglu Farrugia's politics changes this perception. He will be getting my family's vote for sure come next elections! Keep it up, Anglu.
t. borg
Jul 30th 2010, 18:02
ghamel sew l-ag appella halli anglu jkollu zewg kundanni. nispera li wara jammetti d-disfatta.
t. borg
Jul 30th 2010, 17:30
il-veru ma nafux x'ahna nghidu. il-partiti igorru nies jivvutaw li lanqas biss jafu jekk humiex fid-dinja. fl-elezjoni nixba nircievi telefonati minn zewg patiti biex immur nivvota joffruli transport b'xejn. iddcidejtx jew ma idecidejtx. veru pajjiz tad-dahq u spicca fir-redikoli.
Eric Psaila
Jul 30th 2010, 17:26
To all those who glorify GONZIPN.
Unlike Mr Seychell I was on the other side of the fence supporting PN. Suffered greatly under labour suspended from work for imnarja are so on. Even jailed for two days under labour.
So as you can see I have taken quite a lot from labour. However notwithstanding all this I still gave my share to the company during labour's administration and I worked hard for my company notwithstanding that it was not my party in power. For this I gained respect by one and sundry.
All this was wrong on the part of labour however they have apologised publicly for their wrong doings. Look at what happened to Lorry Sant.
What drove me away from the PN was the character assassination on all Air Malta staff some years back. Air Malta is in the state it is in today thanks to wrong decision making like the Avro Jet purchase and Azzura air and not because of its staff. This government managed to bring down on its knees the company which provided my daily my bread and butter and for this PN will never ever again get my vote.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 30th 2010, 18:03
Eric Psaila and I worked together at Air Malta and shared a lot of respect for each other notwithstanding our political differences. Prior to 1987 Eric was given a hard time and I was there to support him. After the situation changed for him in 1987 it became my time to drink from the bitter chalice and Eric was there to support me. Eric always insisted that two wrongs don’t make a right.
Romeo Busuttil
Jul 30th 2010, 17:25
ONLY IN MALTA.COM...LOL And is it not harrassment when BOTH political parties phone you on election day (sometimres three times!!) reminding you that you had not yet voted? They do not even have the right to do this, yet none of our representatives complain as its their own agents who do the calling!! And what about people entering the polling booths on stretchers!!! Do all these express the desire to go and vote on their free will? Mickey Mouse Country.
J.Borg
Jul 30th 2010, 17:15
What does the PN and it's media have to say now?
Are they going to tell the Attorney general to resign as well?
All PN apologists, we cannot continue going like you....bringing up what happened ages ago. If as you say that Malta is free now, let the court action take it's toll and see what the end result is.
If wrong was done in the past, as was from both PL and PN parties....things have to change.
M Vella
Jul 30th 2010, 15:47
La verita offende
Dr. John Zammit
Jul 30th 2010, 15:44
Before I used to go against Mike Seychell, but now that I have passed through the arrogance of the Labour Party, after I have been working militantly since the 1960's age of mortal sin and interdiction, I also had to leave the Labour Party. I have left the Labour Party for good and I know that what the Labour Party accuses others have done the same and there is no difference. That is why Labour remained in opposition for more then 20 years and has no chance to win any coming elections because the most sincere and hard working supporters like me, Mike Seychell, Joe Carbonaro and others were treated like animals!
Mark Piscopo
Jul 30th 2010, 16:28
Are you saying that we will always have a PN Government ?
Dr. John Zammit
Jul 31st 2010, 07:39
I am saying that there will not be a Labour government anymore but a Nationalist and Liberal government like in the United Kingdom - Conservatives and Liberals. That is the solution for Malta. Labour cannot be trusted anymore it has lost its principles and do not know what they want. So those who are really progressive should vote Liberal in the coming general elections.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jul 30th 2010, 15:37
It would be nice tyo have peole remind us how Mike Seychell acted under a 70's Labour Government....people like journalist Godfrey Grima perhaps...
Joseph Scicluna
Jul 30th 2010, 16:44
Can't you remind us?. It would be very nice!!!
Arnold Vella
Jul 30th 2010, 15:36
Wasting people's money like that is a sin today. ANglu Farrugia should have resigned and not continued to waste people's money down the drain for these vavati. Is this the one who is aspiring to be future Deputy Prime Minister??? Resign in shame.
A. Borg
Jul 30th 2010, 16:02
Sorry imma nahseb li mhux l-istess artiklu qrajt!
L-AG appella u mhux AF!
martin saliba
Jul 30th 2010, 19:23
You have misread the article and you are still saying that AF should resign. It was the AG that appealed. So , you Arnold Vella , are calling for the resignation of the AG.
Sylvander manduca
Jul 30th 2010, 15:33
@ Seychell
"Yes Times have Changed and despite numereous Perceptions, we are living in one of the most free and democratic countries in Europe and the World. "
I think you are living in another planet Mr Seychell, or you think that us maltese are a bunch of gullible idiots. Try criticizing the government in public and see the flack coming your way from the govt side. Just ask the ombudsman and the MEPA auditor about their experiences. How many workers are discriminated because of their political beliefs? I was one of them, but it was an eye opener for me because it was an incentive to leave that joke of a country called Malta and emigrate to a civilized place.
maria busuttil
Jul 30th 2010, 15:29
So what was wrong by taking someone to vote? Wish I had some one to take me to vote, and after all we are all oblige to vote, to who ever party we want, one thing I say, I vote with all my heart to a party that has not put canvassers with guns pressed to my back as has happened to me in cospicua in 1976, since then I swore I will never give in to those type of criminals. We all forget the harsh time it seems. .
Franco Debono (Xghara, Gozo)
Jul 30th 2010, 15:23
Dream on Mr. Sychel
Albert Farrugia
Jul 30th 2010, 15:08
To Mr Seychell. That presumably means that we should all do like you and kneel down in front of a big statue of Gonzi and adore him in Kim il-Sung "Beloved Leader" fashion? We will leave that to you. People who, unlike you, live in the present will be now looking at this case much much more closely. We who are Maltese know what this case is all about, and we can more or less suppose what happened. Enough said.
Arnold Vella
Jul 30th 2010, 15:37
You must have conveniently forgotten what happened at Zejtun, when PN supporters were beaten and not allowed to vote. Memory is often missing from labour redheads. Not from us.
michael seychell
Jul 30th 2010, 17:16
Mr. A Farrugia - I can assure that I have never, and hope that in the few more years that I may live I will not BOW to any living person.
I do not have the privilage of knowing who you are, but let me remind you that I did not Bow to Dom MIintoff the reknowned PM and leader of the Labour Party, when in 1973 he wanted to introduce drastic measures at the Dockyard, including going back to six day week and reducing the wages by 10%. I may add that the NACSS representing the white collar workers and the Manegerial Unon both bowed and accepted to reduce the wages of their members.
I was 'convinced' to bow only once when 33 years ago this month the MLP sent circa 30 thugs to silence me, and the GWU General Council made me resign my position since they could not guarantee the security of my family and myself from these thugs, The GWU instead of condemning the thugs, condemend me for insisting for the presence of a Doctor at the Drydocks in the interest of my members.
Any other comment on this matter will be superflueous.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
mike seychell
Jul 30th 2010, 14:40
To All - Imagine during Labour's Regime in Government, when under Mintoff we had the Judges Musical Chairs, and the Constitutional Court Suspended, the Attoreney General appealing against a Court Decision who found against the Party in Goverment!
Yes Times have Changed and despite numereous Perceptions, we are living in one of the most free and democratic countries in Europe and the World.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Joe Bugelli
Jul 30th 2010, 14:58
Keep on joking Mr mike seychell
Marcel Dingli
Jul 30th 2010, 15:11
Weren`t you with Labour at that time, Mr Seychell?
martin saliba
Jul 30th 2010, 15:13
Mr Sechelle , it seems that you have a memory of a goldfish. You haveforgotten or failed to insist for the resignation of the AG as since he is appealing from the courts decision he is essentialy saying that Anglu Farrugia was rigth in critisising the same courts judgment regarding this case. All you PN appologists including your party and PM insisted that Mr. farrugia should resign for critisising the courts desision. Please tell , whos hould resign now ?
J. Mifsud
Jul 30th 2010, 15:30
Mr Seychell, were'nt you on the other side of the fence then?
Yes, I agree with you that times have changed........... for some people.........
I cannot comment about your office at that time but I'll leave that to whoever lived in the corridors of power then.
Pierre Fiorentino
Jul 30th 2010, 17:16
Sur Seychell, qatt smajtu l-qawl " La ddardarx l-ilma li trid tixrob minnu" Jghodd hafna ghalik habib!
mpace2
Jul 30th 2010, 17:27
Mike were you when the union has holy war against the party that you now support because you flee the battles and the real leaders whom they fought the struggle against the P.N. regime are the only men and women whom they never were afraid from violations of their human rights and maybe you just turn a wizard with golden touch or your heart bleeds for the workers rights ??
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 30th 2010, 17:34
Mike, during Labour's Regime in Government, when under Mintoff we had the Judges Musical Chairs, and the Constitutional Court suspended, you were applauding that Regime. Your only grievance then was against the statute merger of the GWU with the MLP.
m pace 2
Jul 31st 2010, 08:28
The discrminations against the water and electric bills we are receving Mike possible your friend Dr Gonzi skip off from the list as the beloved savouir and speaker on the defend rights for the common worker- and as said your free now from the promise land the best way to do now pick up your belongs and shifted to regime country and try and fix their democratic system - please dont continue makes people laugh with your bible type words- learn from mistakes of the past mike defender of the human rights???