Ten minutes before the stipulated deadline, the Attorney General’s office yesterday filed a 32-page appeal against the judgment that had acquitted a student and an established author for distributing obscenities.

On March 14, magistrate Audrey Demicoli cleared student editor Mark Camilleri and author Alex Vella Gera who published a story entitled Li Tkisser Sewwi (Fix what you break) on the University-distributed newspaper Realta’.

The explicit story was reported to the police by the University authorities, allegedly by the University Rector, Juanito Camilleri.

The court had found that the law did not provide a clear definition of what is obscene and that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to show how the story offended public morals.

The Labour Party had urged the authorities not to appeal the judgment.

After being acquitted Mr Camilleri had said the rector should consider his position. However, Prof. Camilleri chose not to comment until it was clear whether or not an appeal would be filed.

Contacted yesterday when it seemed there would be no appeal, his communications office stuck to the same line, pointing out there was still time for an appeal.

Meanwhile, Mr Vella Gera has clarified that he never asked for Prof. Camilleri’s resignation as had previously been reported.

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