Charges against Cyrus Engerer: Government does not interfere in police work - Gonzi
The Prime Minister said today that he did not wish to comment about police charges against Sliema deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer and his father Chris, insisting that the government does not interfere in the work of the police.
Speaking this morning in reply to questions from journalists, Dr Gonzi said:
"I will not go into the merits of the case and I don’t want to comment."
Mr Engerer, 29, is being charged with keeping and/or circulating pornography and computer misuse.
He will also be charged with vilifying Marvic Camilleri, a former employee of the Nationalist Party and a former member of the PN youth movement (MŻPN).
The alleged crimes took place between December 2009 and January 2010.
The news was revealed today in The Times just days after it was reported that Chris, who owns a beach club in Sliema, was arrested after police caught him smoking marijuana outside his home.
The police actions took place 10 days after Mr Engerer resigned from the Nationalist Party and joined Labour.
Mr Engerer resigned from the PN on July 15 after calling for the Prime Minister's resignation on Facebook following Dr Gonzi's no vote on divorce in the second reading in Parliament.
He decided to remain an independent member of the Sliema local council, becoming the third elected PN candidate to do so.
Dr Gonzi insisted this morning that government does not interfere with the work of the police.
"We have always left it up to the police to investigate and that is how things should be."
The Prime Minister also referred to Mr Engerer's decision to leave the PN and join Labour reiterating that he respected his decision although he did not agree with it.
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Ms Francesca Abela
Jul 26th 2011, 19:42
Ha Ha, so typical of the PN, first they throw the stone and then they wash their hands like Pilate, hmmmm remember not so very long ago, the extra 500 euros? the Divorce issue?/ It makes us sick.
Ms Rita Smith
Jul 27th 2011, 09:27
Are you claiming to being a PN supporter. My foot
R. Smith
Vincent Mercieca
Jul 26th 2011, 18:57
Government does not interfere in police work - Gonzi
I heard that joke, please tell me another one
george grech
Jul 26th 2011, 23:23
Vince, I ll make your wish come true....read this:
Labour governments never intervened in police work - Grech
another joke and very much much better.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jul 26th 2011, 15:47
"Government does not interfere in police work" stated the Prime Minister.
I think I heard the same words being stated in the 1980's.
Is history repeating itself?
James Dalli
Jul 26th 2011, 15:34
I'm also "keeping and/or circulating pornography" I have a picture of Austin Gatt and Tony Zarb hugging topless.
Mr Joe Morana
Jul 26th 2011, 14:40
Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad!
E. Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2011, 14:25
This happened in 2009/10. So why charge him NOW? I haven't got the faintest idea !!
Mr Victor Laiviera
Jul 26th 2011, 16:11
I have!
hugh jars
Jul 26th 2011, 18:59
guess what, it is Malta!!!!
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 26th 2011, 14:07
M Schembri Today, 13:34 said:
"Alfred Bugeja leave Mr Camilleri out of this. He filed a complain against Mr Engerer 18 months ago. Our super efficient police force only took steps now 18 months later, right after Mr Engerer defected from the PN. As a matter of fact Mr Camilleri has lost interest in the case and does not want to press charges. I hope they won't charge Mr Camilleri with for dropping charges now."
Sir/Madam, it may have escaped your notice that police investigations can go on for years, usually until some new evidence is given to them or a reluctant witness decides to come forward or carelessly utters some remark that can be pinned down and used in a case.
By way of explaining myself...., if the police were to finally unravel a decade-old [or even older] murder, burglary or assault, would you be questioning why it took them so long to bring the case to court? Some murderers weren't arraigned for many many years because witnesses didn't come forward until time had passed.
I see nothing wrong with this alleged "coincidence" not even if it came about because of loss of perceived protection. It is the alleged "perceived protection" that I hold in contempt not the loss of it.
Mr Albert Dimech
Jul 26th 2011, 14:05
This was leaked purposely, Cyrus has declared that he has received no accusations yet. It seems to be a revenge from a old flame of his. Love and hatred mix well sometimes. Anyway, why now and not over a year ago? It seems that all the case rests on the accusations on one person.
L Falzon
Jul 26th 2011, 13:59
... and after reading this article, I am more convinced that this was a frame-up..... as charges against Cyrus where made almost 2 years ago
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110726/local/victim-wants-charges-against-cyrus-engerer-dropped.377440
Michael Seychell
Jul 26th 2011, 16:40
Mr l. Falzon - Frame ups really happened under Labour - Ask Pietru Pawl Busuttil and J. Gaffarena, and ask Dr. Michael Falzon who albeit he was the Deputy Leader of the MLP he was the victim of a frame up by his own Party, as he himself stated not so lo ng ago!
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Mr Joe B Edwards
Jul 26th 2011, 19:42
I think the people who got framed up were the Nationalists and not Cyrus. We all know that history repeats itself and that the most experienced people for frame-ups are in the Labour party.
Either that or there is some idiot nationalist who caused a lot of trouble for he\she supports.
Mr leo attard
Jul 26th 2011, 13:55
if engerer's criminal actions took place 2009-january 2010, then why wasn't he charged then? why now? --- does his ''treason'' have anything to do with it?
L. Vella
Jul 26th 2011, 15:36
If you choose to support another party over another, it's not treason but freedom of choice. Probably this is why all these accusations have come to light now rather than when they were originally reported, because the PN regard Mr. Ergerer's choice as treason.
Mr leo attard
Jul 26th 2011, 20:52
@L Vella....I hope you realise that I used 'treason' within inverted commas. Just to keep the records straight.
Carmel Zammit
Jul 26th 2011, 13:53
The Prime Minister would do well to remember that not all Maltese are muddle-headed. Some do carry brains.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 26th 2011, 13:38
Judge me not by what I say,judge me by what I do..........Dr.Gonzi.
Mr J Busuttil
Jul 26th 2011, 15:53
Charles pray that you might not be in for a surprise after the press conference and you will have to swallow the quote.
Mr Steve Sant
Jul 26th 2011, 13:35
How unbelievably predictable, I did post a comment on the Times, but anything against the state is not posted, so I'm not surprised about anything. Police are a Politicians wh*re ? So Mr.Policeman go wh*re yourself !
M Cassar
Jul 26th 2011, 13:24
The Prime Minister has been in a big hole for some months and he should stop digging. Who will beleive that this police action is not connected with the recent decision of Mr Engerer to switch his political allegiances? Now the lawyers of the victim have said that their client does not want to pursue with his complaint. I just wish that our politicians especially those in government who have so much power give some space to those of us who are not really all that interested in politics but want to get on with our lives with as little oppression from the state as possible
Mr J Xerri
Jul 26th 2011, 13:23
"We have always left it up to the police to investigate and that is how things should be." Yes Mr Prim Minister, but have you ever querried/investigated why the police take action in some cases and seems to close an eye in some others? Why the Police in this case took action only a few days after Engerer's 'defection' and not before when the alleged crimes were committed one and half years ago.
Mr francis darmanin
Jul 26th 2011, 13:17
seen porn? smoked a bit of hash? had sex with condom?.... what an evil world we live in
Albert Spiteri
Jul 26th 2011, 13:16
Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:-
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller, a prominent Protestant pastor who opposed the Nazi regime. He spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
This is what could have been easily forecasted after the 2008 general elections, when a corrupt and extremely incompetent GonziPN stole, gerrymandered and hijacked a further 5-year extension in government.
Mr David Buttigieg
Jul 26th 2011, 13:16
I see Labour supporters still think Government should be able to order the police to drop (or press) charges!
Adele Mintoff
Jul 26th 2011, 15:01
WELL SAID !!!! Their mentality hasn't changed.
Mr Charles camilleri
Jul 26th 2011, 15:03
Laour still insist, as they used to do in the past, that Govt should interfere in the work of the police.
They have not changed.
Carmel Zammit
Jul 26th 2011, 16:02
Can you explain why it took almost 2 years for the the police to file the charges? Can you explain the big coincidence of the timeing of Mr. Engerer's switch to Labour from the PN and the filing of the charges? The PM claims that he does not interfere in the works of the Police but I am sure someone is interfering and how!!
Mr Owen Grixti
Jul 26th 2011, 13:15
One thing comes in mind after reading this – in the last general election JPO was (in brackets) seen as a victim and target between the two parties, and people still elected him from 2 districts, as people cannot stand this use of power from a big party with a single person.
If a person has common sense and is able to think and use brains, not like the brain washed. It seems too obvious as it happened as soon as this person left the PN…
This will give more publicity to Cyrus and more followers, (the ones that are feed up of this whole comedy).
J lanzon
Jul 26th 2011, 13:07
kullhadd jara xjaghmel biex iwaqqa xi hadd ghac cajt.. billi kien qijad ipejjep wiehed barra id dar tieghu, kien qed jaghmel hazin il nies ohrajn? le.. Xeba injoranti ghaw f'dil pajjiz.
Forsi mandux kompletament xjaqsam ma dis suggett izda di kienet l-unika wahda li sibt dwara.
A Dimech
Jul 26th 2011, 13:05
If you investigate all Maltese people who see Porn, then you end up with a list as large as teh census itself!!
(Note:- excluding child porn - which by no means is acceptable or legal or moral).
I think now that he switched side they are just emptying the cupboard and see what they can find against him.....
Ms pamela hansen
Jul 26th 2011, 13:03
Fishy. Why have the charges been brought one year and a half later?
Jeffrey Mifsud
Jul 26th 2011, 14:36
B'kumbinazjoni nahseb Ms Hansen.....
Joseph Camilleri
Jul 26th 2011, 13:00
It always boils down to a question of credibility. Personally, I have none in what the PM is stating.
Mr Joe Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 12:56
Are you saying that our police is corrupted?
Mario Grima
Jul 26th 2011, 12:52
Meta jitkellem Gonzi qisu qed jitkellem xi qaddis? Mur emmnu!!!!! Tahseb li il-poplu Malti ghadu jemmen dak li tghid war dawk il-kutrumbajsi kollha?
Mr mario scerri
Jul 26th 2011, 12:51
Vera Dr Gonzi? int bis-serjeta???????? Kellek ragun tghid flimkien kollox possibli.....Ghax sakemm tkun taht il-kappa tieghek tkun protett
Mr R ferriggi
Jul 26th 2011, 12:48
pn has gone down bad. this is not the way to go about destroying people.
if he wanted to be a cowboy, fair enough.
but to destroy a person just because he wants out..... this is not acceptable.
Joseph Fenech
Jul 26th 2011, 13:59
agreed ... tal misthija.
Mitt ragel, mitt fehma, kull opinjoni trid tkun rispettata. Il-Pulizija iridu jispjegaw u jikxfu min kien li ghamel pressjoni biex dan ir rapport johrog wara sentejn, MIN?
Meta Cyrus iddecida li iz-zmien tieghu fil-PN spicca, irrejalizza li l-hbieb li kellu mhux talli tawh darhom imma anke stallet dahlulu. Il-Partit tefgha gebla ohra fuq saqajh, nisthi nghid li kont nikkunsidra nivvutalhom.
Laurence grech
Jul 26th 2011, 12:47
OMG its such a big deal... NOT .. unless it was child pornography.. in that case its not fine..
Tonio Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 12:44
Tafu x'qal Gonzi darba? XEJN MA JIGRI B'KUMBINAZZJONI!
A Dimech
Jul 26th 2011, 12:41
DOn't know the case in detail, but it is very surreal that charges are brought forward just after he defected!!
Are we ending up in a dicatoral police state?!!
Mr Ernest Vella
Jul 26th 2011, 12:36
gibu prova li hu frame up hux!!! kemm gej paroli fil-vojt
Mario Grima
Jul 26th 2011, 12:48
Are you that naive Mr. Vella?
Mr W Cassar
Jul 26th 2011, 12:53
I think this says it all Ernest.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110726/local/victim-wants-charges-against-cyrus-engerer-dropped.377440
D Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 12:36
Dr.Gonzi
You have got it all wrong....
Whilst Government definitely should not interfere in Police work, it is evident that the Police are:
either being used by some political stalwarts for the same stalwarts vile political objectives,
or/and elements within the Police force are abusing their powers/responsibilities/duties.
Either way a thorough investigation is called for as both the Police and your Government have lost all credibility!
George Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2011, 12:28
yet another mistake maneuver by PN.
Mr John Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 12:25
perfect timing a' la PN....
A. Cachia
Jul 26th 2011, 12:24
Kumbinazzjoni.....
charles tabone
Jul 26th 2011, 12:22
No, we're all sure that nobody intervenes in police work. But who can explain that charges against Engerer could be levied now that he has crossed over to the other side. And if he didn't would he have gone Scot free? Ha, Ha! And what about charges against his father, only now? Did the police wake up from their puppetty dream? Halluna nghixu! Ahna l-hobz minn halqna nikluh mhux mill-warrani. It would be courageous for the Police commissioner to delve deep into other matters that are making the citizen getting the creeps. Isa, John!
Emmanuel Caruana
Jul 26th 2011, 12:19
What will be Dr. Muscat reply now.
Mark Brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 12:37
He will react once he stops laughing at the PN's strategists, if they are employing any.
L Falzon
Jul 26th 2011, 13:00
... Dr. Muscat does not need to reply ......... he can only laugh at this idiotic charade
charles tabone
Jul 26th 2011, 13:08
Mr J.M would be enjoying this Comedy of Errors, and laughing his heart out! Ha, Ha! Taf xi haga dwar frame-ups????? You only have to delve into what those of your ilk are accustomed to invent.
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 12:16
Pull the other one Dr Gonzi. - Dr Gonzi insisted this morning that government does not interfere with the work of the police.
Richard Pace
Jul 26th 2011, 12:13
What a joke!
What a farce of a prime minister who probably ordered dirt to be brought forward as a result of the defection. Being gay is no sin PM except in your eyes and that of the church in whose pockets you sit. Even if he porn material as far back as 2009/10 it is past the by sell date. He should have been charged earlier and not now when he defected. PM the country will defect en-masse in under 2 years. Wait and see.
francis Buhagiar
Jul 26th 2011, 12:08
Dr Gonzi is transforming Malta into an orwellian comedy.
K. Vella
Jul 26th 2011, 12:00
@Mr. Joseph Muscat
I do understand your laughter. It seems that you were used with the Socialist regime back in the eighties and you cannot understand that such practices do not exist anymore.
JOSEPH VELLA
Jul 26th 2011, 12:51
Ġħalfejn qieġħed tiskanta, l-ispiżjar milli jkollu jtik. Il-PL imsieken qatt m'ġħamluhom dawn l-affarijiet
Mr W Cassar
Jul 26th 2011, 12:54
That goes for you too K.Vella
John Gills
Jul 26th 2011, 13:08
whats your point?... so we should keep on doing these things cause there is always the excuse that 30 years ago the socialist party did the same...?
Neville Debattista
Jul 26th 2011, 13:08
@ K.Vella. Infact they do exist Mr.Vella. Is it possible that you are so naive as to beleive that all this is a coincidence?
Mr Joseph Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 12:00
This is the typical PN character and political assassination system. This reminds me of their very shady past.
Brian Gatt
Jul 26th 2011, 11:55
Fantastic......if you do not agree with them you end up facing charges hekk sew!!!! Even if these charges are true they came out too early after Mr Engerer resigantion was submitted.
Anthony Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 11:53
It sounds to me like there is a witch hunt going on the Engerer family now that they have switched allegiance from the National Party to the MLP.Nothing that Dr Lawrence Gonzi says will change this opinion knowing that he only has a conscience where it comes to divorce.
The day will come when things will change and the people playing this kind of game will have to be made accountable for the stress and misery they are causing within the population of our beloved young nation.
Ms D Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 12:00
Sure, The prisons are littered ith people who , in the pre-1987 era.teargassed Nationalist supporters at Tal -Barrani and Rabat and rrequisioned people's properties without adequate compensation .
Gordon Farrugia
Jul 26th 2011, 11:48
the very fact that Cyrus is being accused less than 3 weeks after defecting from your party is PROOF that your government interferes in police work! What is surprising is that you have stumped so low ;)
X'tahseb li ax inti avukat ha tilghabna bil-kliem...
A Cuschieri
Jul 26th 2011, 12:05
If PROOFs were only coincidental timings then most of Malta would be in prison now ...
It's funny though, because in the last couple of days, people are accusing government based on 'proofs' such as this one (i.e. timing), or an article on kulhadd stating about bombs from libya.
No tangible proof in either cases but since it's against the government, simply hearsay would be enough no?
j brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 11:41
Quote:'The Prime Minister will not comment about police charges against Sliema deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer and his father Chris saying government does not interfere in the work of the police,.
Unquote: LOL!!!!!!!
Is this Malta in 2011 and a member of EU?
Come off - how ridiculous.
This country is going to the dogs.
What a shame on GonziPN!
(jb)
L Falzon
Jul 26th 2011, 13:02
@ J Brincat ............ it's not even going to the dogs, as even they are being targeted !!
Mr Joseph Sammut
Jul 26th 2011, 11:39
Dr Gonzi insisted this morning that government does not interfere with the work of the police. lol lol lol !!!
Ms D Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 11:52
Any tangible prrof on the contrary?
Ms F Goodwin
Jul 26th 2011, 12:04
@ Ms Galea: How about the fact he's being charged with looking at internet pornography when I'm sure thousands of Maltese get away with the same? I guess it's a complete coincidence that this happened shortly after he defected from the PN?
Ms Eve Axiaq
Jul 26th 2011, 12:08
@ D,Galea : Common sense!
Alfred Vassallo
Jul 26th 2011, 12:56
@D.Galea
Oh yes, of coarse.....yeah right.....but my goddness I see you haven't removed your deep blue glasses
yet.
Alfred Bugeja
Jul 26th 2011, 13:05
Ms. Goodwin,
The charges are not "looking at internet pornography". They are "manufacturing" porn and using it to "vilify" Marvic Camilleri.
I'll let you join the remaining dots.
J lanzon
Jul 26th 2011, 13:16
Apart from the pornography, even for his father, just because he was smoking marijuana outside his own house.. im pretty sure he wasnt harming anyone and was not around people. It's all out against engerers now
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 13:26
Ms Galea try publicly defecting from the PN, you'll get enough proof. Or else ask other defectors.
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 13:34
Alfred Bugeja leave Mr Camilleri out of this. He filed a complain against Mr Engerer 18 months ago. Our super efficient police force only took steps now 18 months later, right after Mr Engerer defected from the PN. As a matter of fact Mr Camilleri has lost interest in the case and does not want to press charges. I hope they won't charge Mr Camilleri with for dropping charges now.
Ms D Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 16:23
The above comments do nothing but lend credence to the saying that speculation and assumption are an apologist's weapon.