Cyrus Engerer case: Commissioner insists police acted correctly - Minister orders inquiry
Cyrus Engerer asked for his case to be concluded quickly - Court proceedings to go ahead
The Home Affairs Ministry has appointed Judge Albert Manche to chair an inquiry to establish whether the police had acted correctly in cases related to Sliema deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer and his father Chris.
The inquiry was requested by Police Commissioner John Rizzo earlier today.
In a letter to Judge Manche, minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said the board should establish whether there had been any negligence, non-observance of procedures, abuse of authority by officials of the police force or others involved in both cases, or external pressure.
The board should go into every ancillary and relevant aspect and make recommendations in line with its conclusions.
Earlier, Mr Rizzo insisted that the police had acted normally with regard to cases involving Cyrus Engerer and his father Chris and investigations were in no way motivated by political considerations.
There was a storm of protest during the day after The Times revealed that Cyrus Engerer, who crossed from the PN to the PL a few days ago, is to be taken to court to face charges of 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).
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Rizzo said the police did not act in the interest of any political party.
He said the police received information related to drugs on July 6 and subsequently carried out a search on Chris Engerer, who was at the time smoking a joint, and found him carrying 5gms of the drug, which is enough to make 10 joints.
The police also searched his house on June 21 and the beach club he managed. At his house, they found a cannabis crusher and smoking paper.
At that time Mr Engerer claimed the search was motivated by Cyrus's defection to the PL.
Mr Engerer was arrested, interviewed and released, as was normal procedure. The case is continuing.
Mr Rizzo said it was an insult to the police and it hurt him personally when people claimed that the police were politically motivated. They had acted only on the basis of information received about drug abuse, Mr Rizzo said. This was information which they simply could not ignore.
Mr Rizzo said he did not think that the informant was politically motivated. It was more likely that it was related to the drug business.
He said that while Chris Engerer was already known to the police with regards to drug investigations, Cyrus Engerer had nothing to do with the case involving his father.
CYRUS ENGERER
On Cyrus Engerer, Mr Rizzo said he only learnt of the case and the investigations yesterday. He said that on January 15, 2010 a report had been made by Marvic Camilleri to the police cyber crime unit alleging that someone was circulating pictures of him in sexual acts with other persons. It was alleged that this pictures were being accessed from his computer and e-mailed by Cyrus Engerer.
The police launched an investigation. This involved a lot of work and results were achieved by the cyber crime unit.
But because of a number of factors, including that Mr Engerer was abroad for quite a long time and that the police were involved in other investigations, the police could not interview him before June 23.
On July 9, Mr Engerer himself asked for investigations to be concluded as quickly as possible. The police inspector was also told by Mr Engerer's lawyers to take the case to court as soon as possible.
The inspector consulted his superiors and yesterday charges were filed in court.
Mr Rizzo said Inspector Grech was insisting that he never passed a copy of the charge sheet to any Times journalist. Indeed, once the charge sheet was filed in court, it was public information. Therefore he could not understand how the police were accused of leaking information.
Mr Rizzo said he would request the government to conduct an inquiry to establish whether the police had acted correctly in these cases.
The Commissioner said that the police would continue the court proceedings ex-officio, despite reports - which had not been made to the police yet - that Mr Camilleri wants the charges to be dropped.
Mr Rizzo said that while there were coincidences between the police investigations and other events, it would be a very sad day if the police were deviated from their investigations into allegations of crime. God forbid that investigators would consider anything other than the cases before them, he said.
PHONE CALL FROM EDGAR GALEA CURMI
Asked whether he had received a phone call from Edgar Galea Curmi (from the secretariat of the Prime Minister) Mr Rizzo said he could confirm the phone call was made on July 21 to enquire about the Chris Engerer case, but he did not have details at the time. Cyrus was near Mr Galea Curmi when the phone call was being made.
Mr Galea Curmi told him that Mr Engerer's lawyer was claiming that the investigation was motivated by the fact that his son had moved to the PL. Mr Rizzo told Mr Galea Curmi this was not the case and Mr Galea Curmi asked him to explain this to his lawyer.
But Mr Rizzo said he did not as he felt he did not owe Mr Engerer's lawyer any investigation.
Mr Rizzo said he only learnt of the Cyrus Engerer case yesterday, and received no phone calls about it.
The Home Affairs Ministry only asked if there was an investigation involving Cyrus Engerer through an SMS but there was no political involvement in the investigation.
Mr Rizzo said he gave his best to the police corps - even to the detriment of his health - and he was personally insulted whenever anybody imputed that he was led or directed by Castille or by anyone else. He never was, and would not tolerate anyone being so directed, Mr Rizzo stressed.
"We do not choose the dates when we conduct our investigations. We are not happy about the coincidences, but we have no control over them," Mr Rizzo said, adding that he was considering libel action against MaltaToday.
OPM DENIAL
Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister strongly denied a claim that it had leaked any information about the charges against Cyrus Engerer to the media.
It said that such a claim, made on MaltaToday was "a blatant lie" and "completely unfounded."
The OPM said it was not even in possession of such information.
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Joe Fenech
Jul 28th 2011, 09:23
Mistimed, rash, and totally void of credibility!
MaryJo Camenzuli
Jul 27th 2011, 16:56
Iż-żejt jitla' f'wiċċ l-ilma:
23 ta' Ġunju - Cyrus Engerer interrogat mill-Pulizija,
9 ta' Lulju - Cyrus Engerer jinsisti mal-Pulizija biex ifittxu jtellgħuh il-Qorti,
15 ta' Lulju - Cyrus Engerer jirriżenja mill-Partit Nazzjonalista taparsi fuq id-divorzju.
Meta rriżenja mill-PN,
Cyrus Engerer kien ilu TLIET ĠIMGĦAT jaf li l-Pulizija kienu se jtellgħuh il-Qorti
akkużat li bagħat bl-internet ritratti tal-ex boyfriend jagħmel is-sess ma' ħaddieħor
u kien ilu ĠIMGĦA li hu stess qal lill-Pulizija biex ifittxu jħaffu l-każ.
Meta mar għand Joseph Muscat biex joħroġ għall-elezzjoni mal-Labour,
Cyrus Engerer ma qalx lil Muscat li kien se jiġi akkużat fuq ir-ritratti tal-ex boyfriend.
Mr Cyrus Engerer,
qed teqred kull nitfa fiduċja li n-nies setgħu kellhom fik.
.
Charles Sammut
Jul 27th 2011, 09:12
PAYBACK TIME for crossing over to the enemy!!
What a coincidence..after all these months that the "alleged" offences were committed by the "turncoat" Engerer ..he gets charged!
And then GonziPN will have us believe that we live in a Free, Conscience ridden, Democratic society?!?!
Who was that infamous person who stated during the Divorce Comedy that the Pro Divorce lobbyists were " wolves in sheeps' clothing" ??!!?
..and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.......
Carmel Cilia
Jul 27th 2011, 16:51
Could these actions be interpreted as a warning to those who were thinking of changing sides: I hope this is not the case, but the coincidence makes one think. What I know for sure is that the Police could have
realised that they were going to create an outcry .Couldn't they have waited a bit?
Polly Bonello
Jul 27th 2011, 08:22
Those of you who believe the version of the Police and GonziPN should read Roald Dahl's 'Tales of the unexpected'.
K. Vella
Jul 27th 2011, 07:30
Is-Sewwa u l-Verita dejjem tirbah.
It is a pity that there are some bloggers who jumped into conclusions which may have hindered and gave the wrong impression of our Police Force.
Just a quick reminder to these bloggers, the Police Force of the eighties are OVER.
Mr d. attard
Jul 27th 2011, 07:29
The Minister here has an opportunity to appoint a board of investigation that is made up of individuals who will enjoy broad based confidence and who have access to all the relative information and who have the guts to speak out if they do not have such access. Failure to do so will just make matters worse...much worse.
J. Schembri
Jul 27th 2011, 06:20
“Cyrus, are you also asking for the resignation of Edgar Galea Curmi like Dr Joseph Muscat is doing? Do you approve?
Staying silent in this moment of truth would be a confirmation that you are letting others to use you for their own ends , and your only interest is POWER.”
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jul 27th 2011, 04:43
Mr Rizzo states: "The police launched an investigation. This involved a lot of work and results were achieved by the cyber crime unit." Given that the complaint was lodged on 15 January 2010, would Mr Rizzo care to provide us with a breakdown of the history of this enquiry? And he goes on: "But because of a number of factors, including that Mr Engerer was abroad for quite a long time and that the police were involved in other investigations, the police could not interview him before June 23." Would Mr Rizzo care to tell us what these other factors are and when Cyrus was out of Malta?
Francis Attard
Jul 27th 2011, 04:33
Il-pulizija u l-gustizzja m'ghandhomx jibqaw taht ir-responsabilta ta' Ministeru tal-Gvern. Jekk m'hiniex sejjer zball, darba Mintoff kien issuggerixxa li dawn ghandhom jaqaw taht ir-responsabbilta tal-President.
Charles Ebejer
Jul 26th 2011, 22:23
Quote "On July 9, Mr Engerer himself asked for investigations to be concluded as quickly as possible. The police inspector was also told by Mr Engerer's lawyers to take the case to court as soon as possible."unquote.
The ploy perpetrated by Mr Cyrus Engerer just might have worked. Accepting the fact that the police were to institute proceedings against him he decided to resign from the PN (July 16th) knowing too well that at that moment he would look the greatest victim ever since Isaac.
Sewwa jghid il-Malti Minn xarrbu kielu l-bakkaljaw. Bil-haqq Joseph meta ha tistenbah ergajt: DEJJEM TARD
Mr twanny borg
Jul 26th 2011, 21:45
prosit lill-kummissarju tal-pulizija ghall-ispjegazzjoni korretta tieghu. kburin bih.
A Dimech
Jul 26th 2011, 21:35
The commisioner is saying that he passed information to Edgar Galea Curmi on the phone about Cyrus's father's case.
Question mr Commissioner. 1st. If I call you, will you give me information about any case I wish to know about? 2nd. Mr commissioner, in your position you should be well aware of privacy and protection of data laws?
can you answer these at a minimum? thanks
Mr Noel Cutajar
Jul 26th 2011, 23:19
You are right in every point you mentioned. If you lodge a police report against someone and ask for a copy of the police report you will be given a copy with parts of the report being censored. The censored parts are what the other party said against you or in your favour.
So in this case a pending investigation, the commissioner decided to divulge the information to a third party....not to his lawyer because I am sure that the lawyer would not be informed of anything.
Mr Joseph Aquilina
Jul 26th 2011, 23:37
"I told him that I was only hearing about this incident from him and
immediately phoned the Commissioner of Police, in front of Cyrus and in a way that he could hear every single detail of the phone call.
"The Commissioner of Police stated to me that report on Cyrus's father had been filed before Cyrus's resignation from PN. I explained to the Commissioner of Police what Cyrus had said that Dr. Bizazza had told him. The Commissioner of Police categorically denied any relationship
whatsoever between Cyrus's resignation from PN and the arrest of Cyrus's father. I asked the Commissioner of Police to meet Dr. Bizazza and explain to him the facts. I understand that the Commissioner of Police decided not to follow my request to meet Dr. Bizazza and I respect his decision.
All the above can be testified by the Commissioner of Police and Cyrus himself."
FROM:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110726/local/galea-curmi-explains-as-muscat-demands-his-resignation.377456
Does that makes things clear enough now? Mr. Galea Curmi phoned the commissioner in order to see if the allegations made by Cyrus where true, which I think is only fair considering his position in the OPM!!
Mr l Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2011, 20:43
i would love to be able to analize this video like Tim Roth ...
Mr Simon Bonello
Jul 26th 2011, 20:28
La guistizia e uguale per tutti?........... ne dubito !
Francis Attard
Jul 26th 2011, 20:06
Sur Kummissarju, ghaliex ma ghidx lil Marvic Camilleri jiftah kawza hu kontra Cyrus Engerer?
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 20:32
L-ewwel m'ghandek tistaqsi huwa:
Kif saret taf il-Pulizija b'dan il-kaz?
Forsi Marvic Camilleri stess irraporta lil Cyrus Engerer?????????????
Francis Attard
Jul 27th 2011, 04:25
@Jack Bristow
Bir-rispett kollu Sur Bristow, taf ghaliex ghamiltha dik il-mistoqsija? Ghaliex jien darba ghamilt rapport ta' ksur ta' ligi lis-Sur Rizzo, u lili hekk kien qalli.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 27th 2011, 08:21
sur Francis aTTARD, kun af jekk inti mintix intiz f'dawn l-affarijiet illi meta l-Pulizija taghmlilha rapport ufficjali, il-pulizija obbligata tmexxi hi. Anke jekk il-vittma jirtira l-akkuza, il-pulizija XORTA obbligata timxi ex ufficio ghax tkun inkisret il-ligi. Mela qabel tiftah halqek biex tghid il-hmerijiet, skond il-kulur tieghek, gharaf sew x'inhuma l-fatti u x'tghid il-ligi.
Francis Attard
Jul 27th 2011, 16:29
Sur Michael Buhagiar, mela jien m'hiniex nghid hmerijiet. Inti stess qieghed tghid li l-pulizija OBBLIGATA tmexxi hi jekk taghmlilha rapport. Mela tista tghidli ghaliex il-pulizija ma investigatx ir-rapport tieghi?
U ghall-informazzjoni tieghek, jien m'ghandiex kuluri.
MaryJo Camenzuli
Jul 27th 2011, 17:15
Il-liġi kienet inbidlet għax nisa li kienu jagħmlu rapporti kontra żwieġhom jew ex żwieġhom kienu imbagħad jirtirawhom u r-raġel kien joħroġ minn fuq.
Ladarba l-ex boyfriend ta' Cyrus Engerer għamel rapport kontra Engerer,
il-Pulizija trid tipproċedi bilfors speċjalment meta issa hu ċar li għandha xhieda oħra
mis-Cyber Crime Unit apparti x-xhieda tal-ex boyfriend ta' Cyrus Engerer.
Il-liġi tgħodd għal kulħadd, anke għal min ikun kandidat Laburista.
.
Francis Attard
Jul 27th 2011, 20:41
@ MarJo Camenzuli
Dan li qieghed tghid int ma jiggustifikax il-fatt li l-pulizija ma investigatx ir-rapport tieghi, anzi qed tikkonferma li l-kummissarju m'ghamilx dmiru. Dak kien il-punt tieghi. Jien nahseb illi naf ghaliex ma nvestigahx, izda sfortunatament jien 'bicca' cittadin komuni bla ebda sahha ta' xejn u ghandi l-limiti tieghi sa fejn nista nasal. Ghaldaqstant inhalli f'idejn Alla l'imbierek biex imbaghad jiggudika hu.
Mr M Saliba
Jul 26th 2011, 19:56
Last December Mr Nikki Dimech was placed in a cell with a door made of bars when he was arresred by the police. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101221/local/nikki-dimech-s-inhaler-handed-to-escorting-officer.341892
In January Mr Martin Debono was arrested along with Nationalist councillor Yves Bobby Cali after they allegedly made personal use of two laptops bought by the council, according to police sources.
The men were picked up by police after an evening council meeting “in full view of all people attending”. They claim they were then kept in a cell for 24 hours before being told they could leave.
The two councillors told The Sunday Times in a brief statement: “Mr Debono was humiliated after he was made to remove all his clothing, including his underpants, in front of officers.” Mr Debono, however, felt the “procedure” went too far.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110116/local/councillor-stripped-naked-while-in-detention.345542/comments:6
Now it 's Syrus Engerer turn to be humiliated by the state police.
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 20:35
And why none of these gentlemen procedeed in court against the Police re-human rights??
Maybe the Police acted regularly??
Ms D Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 21:55
More like Mr.CE did a disservice to the PL by resigning in time to save the PN any embaressment and trotting along to the PL with a sob story of how intolerant and homophobic the PN are.
Mr M Saliba
Jul 27th 2011, 07:35
@ Jack Bistow
The search is standard procedure for anyone who is held in custody,It is not standard for someone to be asked to strip naked, but custodial officers would want to check that the person held does not have any object with which he could cause himself harm.
Architect Martin Debono together with the Nationalist councillor Bobby Cali a councillor of sliema were arrested in front of the public after the council meeting. They were held in a cell for 24 hours, and was stripped naked in front of police officers.
Mr Bistow - The police have the authority, but do you believe that in this case their behaviour was appropriate?
The police can pick on you, and make your life feel like hell.
jack bristow
Jul 27th 2011, 10:48
What I'm trying to explain to your goodselve is that once a person is detained in a cell in police custody, its by procedure that a strip search MUST be done.
CLEAR ENOUGH??
Mr M Saliba
Jul 27th 2011, 14:00
@ jack Bistow
According to police sources, "“The search is standard procedure for anyone who is held in custody,” the sources said. “It is not standard for someone to be asked to strip naked, but custodial officers would want to check that the person held does not have any object with which he could cause himself harm.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110116/local/councillor-stripped-naked-while-in-detention.345542/comments:6
Mr Bristow are you in favour of strip search, every time a person is in police custody?
In this case it was more appropriate to call Architect Martin Debono at a police station to explain his action. Arresting a people's representative in front of the public after a council meeting, detaining him in a cell for 24 hours, and then asked to strip naked in front of police officers, because of alleged misappropriation of a council Laptop, is very humiliating. These exagerations are turning Malta into a police state.
Mr Gabriel Cassar
Jul 26th 2011, 19:20
Timing is key in this analysis and although the report above is probably faithful to what the Commissioner said, it does not present itself in a manner that places the events in chronological order. This would have given a different colour to the whole story and probably invited fewer speculative comments:
June 23 - CE interrogated
July 9 - CE requests his case to be heard with urgency
July 15 - CE resignation from within the NP
The conclusion is pretty obvious - but then this might not fit with the scenario that was intended to be portrayed.
Mario Grima
Jul 26th 2011, 19:15
In the land of Mickey Mouse where 'together everything is possible' the sheer coincidences are just amazing. Just when Cyrus crossed over from the PN to the PL the dogs of abuse of power were let loose. It seems that someone is very keen to tarnish Cyrus and his father with facts that, wonder of wonders, have surfaced this week just when we witnessed the Cyrus saga concerning the divorce issue and the cross-over. If this is sheer coincidence than I will believe that pigs can fly. 'Carry on' tnelhu bin-nies!!!!!!
Alfred Bugeja
Jul 26th 2011, 20:26
It's not "just when" Cyrus crossed over. It's before he crossed. That explains a lot of things.
P Borg
Jul 27th 2011, 07:00
Well said! It's purely coincidental that all this was stirred up just after Cyrus decided to leave PN to run for PL... or is it?
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Jul 26th 2011, 19:13
Proset lil pulizija tax-xoghol li ghamlu. Halluhom jahdmu fil-kwiet u mhux nipprovaw infixklu dawn id-dmirijiet taghhom. Iva kazijiet jistaw jiehdu snin shah sakemm jigu solvuti u jitresqu l-qorti waqt li ohrajn minhabba provi bizzejjed jistaw jigu solvuti mill-ewwel. Kienet il-media li ghamlet dawn l-allegazzjonijiet fil-miftuh u li kieku ma kienux huma, dan il-kaz kien jibqa miexi normali bhall ohrajn.
J Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2011, 19:11
Partit Nazzjonalista huwa partit mahmug...u qed nghid hekk ghax alla jbierek kif jitilqu mill-Partit jibdew hergin stejjer tal-wahx...Hekk gara meta Nikki Dimech telaq lil PN u hekk se jsir ma' Cyrus. (u nixtieq li jkun hawn min ifakkar stejjer ohra).
Jien qadt ma nista' naqbel ma' oggett hazin izda lanqas ma nista naqbel ma' partit opportunist li jkun jaf bil-hmieg ta' l-individwu fi hdanu, sakemm ikun fi hdanu jippprotegieh, izda johorgu fil-berah meta jitlaq il-partit. X'kuxjenza dik?
Tal-Misthija! Dan huwa accettat Sur Prim Ministru...fejn hi l-karita nisranija u l-kuxjenza socjali?
Mr Joseph Aquilina
Jul 26th 2011, 23:46
I wonder where are your reading skills!? Because if you had any then you would have realised (from the text under the article title) that 1) Cyrus was investigated when still a PN member, 2) asked for his case to be concluded quickly, and 3) then dropped out of PN and joined PL!! Doesn't that smell fishy!?
I know I know, "One News said otherwise" ...
(I rest my case)
Carmel Xuereb
Jul 26th 2011, 19:11
Nadif tazza l-korp, il-gustizzja maz-zghir issir biss imma mal-kbar le, wiehed li zbalja darba tqaccat il-barra u ohrajn li ghamlu bhalu imma ghar minnu ghadhom hemm sa llum.
Mr Ian Xuereb
Jul 26th 2011, 21:10
Naqbel miek mija fil-mija. Ma min iridu biss jaqbdu
Ms Francesca Abela
Jul 26th 2011, 19:05
Really?? - Surprise, Surprise, isn't this typical dirty tactics of use first and squeeze dry when you have no more use for, and we all know who is the political party who is the expert in this don't we??
anthony attard
Jul 26th 2011, 19:02
Dawn kollha kummidji biex naljenaw lil poplu mill froga grassa tal Arriva u dawk ta madwara, dawk zgur ghandom ghalfejn jirrezenjaw, nappella lil kumissarju johrogilna statistik ta kemm qed jinhargu siringi mill health centers u tafu li dawn biex jintuzaw ghat tehid ta drogi . Jien inzertajt kemm il darba f'health center u jigu ghas siringi, ovja jinaraf xi jkun lindividwu, tigux tghajduli biex ma jinxteridx mard bejnit l-addicts ghax xorta illegali tehid ta droga. Sur kummissarju ghamlulhom l-assa lil daw u investigaw forsi xi darba din il ferita tibda tghalaq.
R. Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 19:00
History repeat its self. It seems that most of the PN members when they go against their party some odd will happen.
Noel Abela
Jul 26th 2011, 18:55
Il-Vapur qed jereq u il-bahrin qed jaqbdu ma kull ma jsibu biex FORSI isalvaw. Only in Malta.
Vincent Mercieca
Jul 26th 2011, 18:54
I simply do not believe Commissioner Rizzo.
Even during investigations suspicions crop up when there are too many coincidences.
There were and are many coincidences involving political persons when they fall from grace with the PN
J. Sultana
Jul 26th 2011, 18:53
First it was Harry Vassallo, then it was Martin Debono & Bobby Cali, now the Engerers. Simply co-incidence ?
And if Mr. Rizzo only got to know about the case yesterday, how can he be sure and at the same time convince us that there was no interference or motives to keep the case hidden before and/or to get the case back to life now ?
"He said that on January 15, 2010 a report had been made by Marvic Camilleri to the police cyber crime unit alleging that someone was circulating pictures of him in sexual acts with other persons. It was alleged that this pictures were being accessed from his computer and e-mailed by Cyrus Engerer." ... so, using the same weight, wasn`t this Marvic Camilleri also in possession of pornographic material since in the very same report he said that the photos with him in sexual acts with other persons were taken from HIS computer ????
Carmel Zammit
Jul 26th 2011, 18:49
But because of a number of factors, including that Mr Engerer was abroad for quite a long time and that the police were involved in other investigations, the police could not interview him before June 23.
Mr. Rizzo's statement is mind boggling. June 23 of which year? First report was logged on January 2010. We are also told that Mr. Cyrus Engerer was not in Malta for quite a long time. This same Mr. Engerer is deputy mayor at Sliema Council and even took active part in Mr. Dimech's debacle months back. Additionally Mr. Engerer was very active during the run up to the Divorce referendum. These are all facts that cannot be negated. How can the Police commissioner ever pretend to convince us that Mr. Engerer's investigation was held back because of his absence from the island??? Is it possible that the police could not find a time for the interview to take place? I find this too hard to accept.
As for the other rhetoric in the Commissoner's statement I leave it up to the readers imagination to assess. All I add is that these tactics are not uncommon when people try to veer public opinion in their favour. What the people want are facts and plausble explanations not rhetoric.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jul 27th 2011, 04:54
Well done Carmel! Mind you I am not saying that Cyrus and/or his father in Malta are perfect. No one is including myself. But then you do not have to be perfect to be a politician. There were not a few closet homosexuals speaking against divorce. Get the drift? This is a political witch hunt irrespective of the merits or other wise of the case. That the police sat on this matter for so long and acted only when it was politically convenient to the PN and no one else speaks volumes. Sadly for the government, the people of Malta are not as stupid as they think.
Gordon Farrugia
Jul 26th 2011, 18:39
John Rizzo i actually had a lot of respect for you but nobody is going to believe that these proceedings were not politically motivated. These accusations are totally absurd and clearly came in to punish Engerer while serving as a warning to others who want to defect. This things don't happen in a democracy but in a police state. And your statements make the police heads sound a bit like governments puppets - you have lost points there in my book.
angelo cilia
Jul 26th 2011, 18:33
10 joints out of 5g of cannabis ?
they must be awfully small joints.
Mr Patrick Attard
Jul 26th 2011, 18:27
On a positive note at least he wasn't strip searched like Martin Debono.
It seems that the Sliema councillors aren't very lucky! Nicky Dimech, Martin Debono, Yves Cali were all arrested, and now this emerges.
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 20:29
Maybe they're all of the same brush?
Strip searches are normal procedure, for the safety of the person arrested.
Mr Noel Cutajar
Jul 26th 2011, 18:24
I find it very incredible that when the report was lodged on January 15 2010 the police could not in any way investigate Cyrus Engerer as he was mostly abroad. He was one of the members of Stand Up before the May 28 Referendum...he was here during and after the Referendum...and few days before the switch over to PL he gave a speech to the PN General Council...so in 18 months he was never traced...
Mr Rizzo said he gave his best to the police corps - even to the detriment of his health - and he was personally insulted whenever anybody imputed that he was led or directed by Castille or by anyone else."
I would say that victims are insulted that after 18 months of lodging a report no action was taken...I could name a few other victims of crime who are still waiting...
jack bristow
Jul 27th 2011, 13:11
He was questioned on the 23rd June.
He crossed to Labour 2 weeks after.
Just work intelligently a sum of brains.
Joseph A Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 18:17
"Mr Rizzo said it was an insult to the police and it hurt him personally when people claimed that the police were politically motivated. They had acted only on the basis of information received about drug abuse, Mr Rizzo said. This was information which they simply could not ignore."
Appeal to emotion from a person vested with a lot of power by the state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_emotion
That's bully talk Mr Rizzo. Specifically the part where you play the victim trying to make us forget that originally this is about people being dragged in the mud for what appear to be insignificant charges. So give us the facts. As many as is legally possible. I respect the police inasmuch as I expect them to do their duty in upholding the law of the land in a civil and enlightened manner.
"We do not choose the dates when we conduct our investigations. We are not happy about the coincidences, but we have no control over them,"
then who does? do you roll dice?
Martin Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 18:15
This is so so funny.... In the 2 previous articles on Cyrus, everyone was against the plice and the government for this blatant "co-incidence". Now read below, and the "kotra" is suddenly against Cyrus. Reminds me of the contrast between th triumphant "Hosanna" entry into Jerusalem and the same crowd turned into a mob crying "Crusify him" just one week later, at the incitement of a few evil souls. Now today, a press release from the Commissioner and suddenly Cyrus turns from hero to baddie (according to several people commenting).
There could be one explanation today thoug. The smitten Nationalists of this morning and afternoon, finally heard a word from a person of authority, asserting the "co-incidence" ploy", and there you have it, suddnly the Nationalist hounds venture out to try to scare away this morning's wolves.
Well, enough analogies. I yearn so eagerly for 2013. Min joghla hafna jiehu tisbita kbira (sorry for the final analogy)...
MaryJo Camenzuli
Jul 26th 2011, 18:13
Facts:
Cyrus Engerer was questioned on the 23rd June.
He insisted on 9 July that his case proceed with urgency.
He resigned from the PN on the 15th July.
Facts are sacred.
.
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 21:37
Before June 23 = Cyrus Engerer joined STAND UP which didn't go well with the PN administration. Matters came to a head when Cyrus insisted that the Prime Minister should vote Yes. Cyrus was no longer the blue eyed boy of the PN.
Adrian Buckle
Jul 26th 2011, 18:10
Something is amiss here. How come it took the police almost 2 years to interrogate Mr Engerer? When Alex Vella Gera came to testify in the Realta' case, he was arrested that same day. When I issued a press conference on Stitching, I was called to Police HQ that same night. As far as I know, Mr Engerer hasn't been abroad all that time these past two years . . . Why now? Why did these accusations surface now? I must be missing something.
Allan Gatt
Jul 26th 2011, 18:05
"Chris Engerer, who was at the time smoking a joint, and found him carrying 5gms of the drug, which is enough to make 10 joints."
No sir it is not. It is enough to make one big fat blunt, which is smoked at a leisurly pace in front of your big screen TV with a big bowl of twistees and a huge pitcher of diet coke. It has to be diet coke because then you'd have to cut back on the twistees and that'd be simply MONSTROUS. Nom nom nom nom.
Mr Peter Vella
Jul 26th 2011, 18:05
Just stop a minute and think who benefits most from all this, is it the PN or the PL? Also ask from which political camp do the lawyers who are now representing the person who originally made the complaint against Cyrus Engerer come from? It is all too obvious.
j brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 18:02
@Albert Fenech
The answer is in the negative because Engerer is such a common name in Malta like Spiteri & Borg!!!!!!!!
(jb)
Ms pat muscat
Jul 26th 2011, 17:54
Dan sar pajjiz tal-kumbinazzjonijiet! Halluna nghixu u bhal ma jghid Freddie Portelli: Issa dejjaqtuna'!
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Jul 26th 2011, 19:26
Dan pajjiz mimli bin-nies ipokriti basta jaghmlu 'l pjaciri lil hbieb tal-hbieb. L-importanti li nidhru fuq it-T.V. u fuq il-gurnali u f'xi funzjoni religjuza, halli nimpressjonaw lic-cittadini. Il-verita twegga. Halluna nghixu tkunux aktar ipokriti.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Mr ALBERT FENECH
Jul 26th 2011, 17:54
I quote from your report above:
"Mr Rizzo said he only learnt of the Cyrus Engerer case yesterday, and received no phone calls about it."
Ok, fair enough. So Mr. Rizzo only learnt about the Cyrus Engerer case yesterday - he claimed. Now when he heard the name "Cyrus Engerer" did his mind not go "click click" at this familiar name? Did he not conceive this is a very sensitive political situation to be approached with caution? Did he not apply logic to the situation, or did he exercise the Rupert Murdoch tactic of "know nothing, heard nothing, saw nothing"? Surely, he must have realised this was a most inopportune time to proceed with charges - which is not to say NOT to proceed because justice must take its course, but to exercise better timing and perhaps call for "greater investigations" before proceeding?
ALBERT FENECH
Qawra
D. A . Agius
Jul 26th 2011, 18:04
As if... whenever there is a politician involved normally within the Police the first thing they do is brush it off to the superior officer...
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 26th 2011, 18:42
According to some, it was Engerer and his lawyer who asked for the charges to be made now and without delay. Would it have been better for the case to be shelved for a couple of years until the last month before the elections?
You see sir, the police can never win with some sections of the public; it is "heads you win and tails I lose" where the corps is concerned.
Then they take a serious case to court after using valuable resources yet despite admissions of guilt, the perpetrators get a telling-off and smirk all the way to the bank with the proceeds of crime and a suspended sentence from the judiciary (who are generally only following the written law). Just look at all the suspended sentences for serious crimes [including violent ones] to understand where I'm coming from.
I think the police corps is doing a good but thankless job despite salaries that are fractional compared to other European police forces.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Jul 26th 2011, 17:48
Naħseb aħjar jistaqsu b'liema kumbinazzjoni inkredibbli l-każ qed jitressaq issa.
Mario Pisani
Jul 26th 2011, 18:13
Kemm int patetiku xbin - nixtieq nara xkont tghid kieku ma giex mal-PL. Barra minn hekk, ara x'taghmel u kompli hammeg...ma jmurx ikecculek lit-tifel il-Maltatoday!
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 18:14
On the 23rd June Cyrus was interrogated by police.
At the time he was a PN councillor.
Your question should be why he crossed the border now?
Was he honest with Joseph Muscat? Did he inform him he was awaiting proceedings??
Peter Bonnici
Jul 26th 2011, 19:02
Cyrus Engerer was interviewed on June 23, 4 days before his speech at the PN General Council Meeting.
On July 9 he insisted with the the police to have his case speedied up.
Don't you see that all this was happening before his surprise announcement 10 days ago?
j brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 17:41
@Agnes Bezzina
Do you remember a person who goes by the name of Dr Alfred Sant?
If there was a person who was so much vilified and character assassinated in local contemporary history than he was the man.
And who do you think did all this simply to again power over and over again?
U hallina!
(jb)
Joe Fenech
Jul 26th 2011, 18:03
Dr Sant is a very brilliant man, a bit like Vaclac Havel. Obviously, Malta's not the Czech Republic but a country of Gahan Malti ! Malta and refined intellectuals don't go together.
Mr J Busuttil
Jul 26th 2011, 18:40
Hallina inti Sur brincat, mela insejt lil Michel Frendo, Tonio Fenech, Austin Gatt etc.
Ghall character assassination il Labour jiehu l-ewwel. Kull ma trid tghamel tiftah il- One news. Ma' x-biza
Mr Angus Black
Jul 26th 2011, 18:46
Dr. Alfred Sant (the person) was never vilified.
His policies or lack of, are a different story.
When you mention Alfred Sant, you cannot forget his stubborness which pitted him against Mintoff in 1998 when he knew darned well, it was a battle he could not possibly win. And this was to the detriment of his own party and supporters.
We also remember Sant (and Joseph, to be fair) for his anti-EU diatribes No wonder he earned his party the nickname of il-Partit tal-Le.
Those who regained power over and over again, gained it democratically as opposed to the 1981 sceniario.
Charles Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 17:40
If the Commissioner did not want to be hurt in this issue, he should have known better, and that politics in Malta will always rule that day. Whoever issued the indictment should have waited for an opportune moment and remembered that irrespective of how many times the Police will now repeat that this was a coincident, half of the island will now keep on insisting that this was politically motivated while the other half will accept the Police version of events. Common sense should have prevailed the day!
Alfred Bugeja
Jul 26th 2011, 18:40
So your by your common sense, Cyrus Engerer should have been immune from prosecution because half the population will not believe that this was a coincidence.
Smart person you are, you!
Charles Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 20:20
@ Alfred Bujega,
You clever person, your comment is really full of common sense. You are trying to twist what I stated, however I will leave it to other bloggers to judge what I stated which again, unlike yours, my comment is a non political.
If Cyrus Engerer or anyone else do something wrong then the law should be allowed to take its course, again my comment clearly stated that it is the timing that I feel that is not appropriate and you only have to read some of these blogs to see for yourself what I mean! Oh Mr Clever One!
Joseph Galea
Jul 26th 2011, 17:37
Jekk Cyrus Engerer gie interrogat fit-23 ta Gunju, allura qabel ma ddecieda li jmur mal-labour...meta ltaqa ma Joseph Muscat qallu li kien qed jigi investigat ?
U jekk qallu ? Jigifieri joseph muscat accetta xi hadd fi hdan il-partit investigat u se jitressaq il-qorti ?
Nahseb wasal il-hin li l-PL u joseph muscat jitkellmu fuq dan il-kaz...
Jekk le, huwa fid-dmir tal-gurnalisti li jistaqsu !
carmel muscat
Jul 26th 2011, 18:37
PROSIT SUR GALEA ILQATT IL MUSMAR FUQ RASU
Ms Agnes Bezzina
Jul 26th 2011, 17:31
Il-Partit Laburista dejjem kien, ghadu, u jibqa' jipprova jirbah il-voti billi jitfa t-tajn!! Ara ghandna Kummissarju b'xiex inkunu kburin! Immissu jisthi min qed jimplika dawn l-affarijiet!!
R. Gauci
Jul 26th 2011, 17:41
Ijja vera Ms bezzina u spiccajna bl-aktar korp 'softy' fl-Ewropa.
D. A . Agius
Jul 26th 2011, 17:45
Skuzani, imma das-sur Kummissarju xbajt nghidlu iftahli libell talli nghid fil pubbliku li iddiskrimina mieghi b'mod personali dwar issue fuq allowances dovuti lili meta kont membru tal- korp.
S'issa ghadu qatt ma ddecieda li jiftahli libell,
Jekk tahseb li hawn il-qaddisin fuq din l-art nahseb ahjar tmur tinqafel lura fl-utopja tieghek!
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 17:51
The commissioner is just doing his rightful job.
If Engerer didn't inform Joseph Muscat of his investigation (as on the 23rd June he was still a PN counciller) then its Engerer the responsibile.
Everyone can conclude for himself the reasons!
Labour should react TODAY & if the party was played maliciosly THE LEADER must say it NOW!
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 18:18
@ D. A. AGIUS
Jekk thossok li iddiskrimina mieghek, ghalfejn ma tifthux int il-libell??
Forsi timmalafama biss taf?
carmel muscat
Jul 26th 2011, 18:39
PROSIT AGNES BEZZINA
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 19:20
Anke l-kumissarju ta qablu kien ragel u kelna biex inkunu kburin bih. Mhux dejjem kummisarju tal-genn kelna.
Mario Grima
Jul 26th 2011, 19:21
Wow, Ms. Bezzina qabbiztli dema. It-tajn qed jaghmlu il-partit Ta GonziPN u jitfghu fuqu stess. Insejt il-kummiedja tad-divorzju u tal €500 li ta il PM lilu nnifsu u lill- shabu tal-kabinet. Saqsi lil JPO u il-Mugliett minn qieghed jitfa it-tajn, meta dawn imlejtuhom bit-tajn minn rashom sa saqajhom. Tafu tisthu??????
D. A . Agius
Jul 27th 2011, 04:45
@Jack Bristow
Nassigurak li li nghid ghandi l-provi kollha iswed fuq l-abjad. U mhux jien ghidtu imma l- Police Board. Sfortunatament min jaf jilghab bil-ligi dewwem l-affarijiet bizzejjed sabiex jien ma nkunx nista niftah il-kawza.
Il-libell ma jifthux ghax HU ghandu x'jitlef!
Mr J Xerri
Jul 26th 2011, 17:30
'Mr Engerer was abroad for quite a long time and the police could not interview him before June 23.' Has Mr Engerer been away from Malta for a year and a half? Mr Engerer seems to be a lucky person to be allowed to go abroad for a long time and not being interviewed about the alleged crimes!!!!
j brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 17:26
The question that immediately comes to mind is 'Why now?'
It's too much of a coincidence!
(jb)
Michael Vella
Jul 26th 2011, 17:46
I agree that it is too much of a coincidence...but if what the commissioner is saying is true, and he was actually interrogated on the 23rd June, was Joseph Muscat made aware of these accusations against him before welcoming him to the PL?
I wonder whether this was a clever game by Cyrus to make himself out to be a victim of dirty politics or whether it was indeed dirty political tactics by someone in government.....
The whole thing stinks!
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 17:47
Cyrus was interrogated on the 23rd June.
On the 23rd June he was still a PN councillor.
If he didn't inform Joseph Muscat of the case he is a cheater and PL should take the bull by the horns.
Joseph~ASAP!
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 19:29
Engerer was intorogated on June 23. What was his crime? Emailing photoes of his friend - How many persons did he kill, how much money did he steal. Although what he did is a criminal offence, and it is something to be ashamed of it is an act committed in anger and on the spur of the moment. We have read many and seen pictures of other character assasinations and they were not on the spur of the moment deeds, they were planned and were meant to hurt and ruin people.
Someone once said " dan ir-ragel ghandu karateristici tajbin u ohrajn ftit anqas tajbin" and he wasn't talking about someone who circulated photoes to retaliate a broken friendship.
Jason Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 17:22
Cyrus should resign.
D. A . Agius
Jul 26th 2011, 17:42
Why? Was any case prosecuted yet?
You may want to remember of various cases where either frame ups were done or else where there were strong doubts on evidence being presented.
Joseph Fenech
Jul 26th 2011, 17:42
If he wont resign they (PN) will do anything on earth to make him resign. Sorry for you Cyrus but PN cannot be trusted.
j brincat
Jul 26th 2011, 18:01
@Jason Borg
Has any minister resigned yet?
(jb)
Martin Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 18:04
Oh dear me - but he did... At least the posts he should have.
Ms Agnes Bezzina
Jul 26th 2011, 19:02
@ DA Agius
Yes we remember the frame-up of Pietru Pawl Busuttil ... and the murder of Nardu Debono ... and MANY MANY other stories from Malta's Black Days under a Labour Party Government! It is, unfortunately, hard to forget ...
M Schembri
Jul 26th 2011, 23:30
@ Ms Agnes Bezzina I wouldn't remind people of Nardu Debono who was being interrogated for planting a bomb behind the Police commissioners' door, lest people will remember the number of bombs planted behing people's doors or police stations - they might even remember the political murder of an innocent 16 year old girl. Surley Cyrus was not guilty of such a crime.
Mr Melvin Caruana
Jul 26th 2011, 17:10
allura ghalxiex dejjem iz zghir jinqabad u il barunijiet ta droga qatt ma jinqabdu.
D. A . Agius
Jul 26th 2011, 17:22
Good question... many possible answers, but the best one is probably that they drop the small fry to fall in front of them a lot earlier before one can get to build a case.
It's also possible that rather than a few large ones, there are many mid-level bosses ready to be felled before big fish are caught.
Maybe the MSS has other things to look out for rather than drug barons. Pity is that we never hear their annyual report in public. It's only restricted to three people. The Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister and Leader of the Opposition.
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 17:26
Two wrongs never make one right, they are both wrong.
As wrong should be treated, the law is everything.
Political syndrome is killing the way we see things, just reject what is bad, whoever it is.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jul 27th 2011, 04:49
Melvin, anke amnestija jaghtuhom! Il-qaddisin ta' Malta!
D. A . Agius
Jul 26th 2011, 16:59
Unless things have changed in the last four years, the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police Force does not do investigations itself, but rather assists other sections and districts of the Police Force in handling cases where electronic evidence or methods are used.
If the report was done in January 2010 and the "suspect" was not interviewed until June 23 this year, then this is probably either due to the dysfunctional bureaucracy within the Police Force, or lack of adequate staffing or probably, BOTH.
I can speak with experience on this. I was a member of this unit until four years ago, when we were only two Police Sergeants. If my sources are correct, the unit does not number more than 5 or 6 police officers today when for every simple insult or threat, a PC or a mobile device is used.
Simply, a case of a force with its priorities being upside down.
riccardo borg
Jul 26th 2011, 16:56
IT'S BECOMING VERY INTERESTING. DRUGS, PORNOGRAPHY, POLITICS (the truth behind the change in Party hasn't as yet been fully released - there must be more).
WHAT MORE WILL BE REVEALED?
Mr Hans Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 17:23
Nice spin Mr Borg
Martin Borg
Jul 26th 2011, 18:07
How low can you go? I'll tell you what's more to be revealed: If the PN fight th next election against a delegation from Mars, they will lose just the same. Fact.
Mario Pisani
Jul 26th 2011, 16:52
Jidher li Cyrus Engerer prova jqarraq. L-ewwel telaq mill-PN u wahhal f' Gonzi u d-divorzju. Fl-istess nifs mar mal-PL u issa qed igib skuza li hu vittma tal-atti li hu stess allegatament ghamel fil-passat. Dak ma kienx bizzejjed...gab l-iskuza li l-istorja ta' missieru ghandha x'taqsam. Issa naraw il-Labour x'se jaghmel b'din il-problema!
Christopher Scerri
Jul 26th 2011, 16:51
Come on Mr.Rizzo...hsibtna tc-cajt lilna...tlifna kull fiducja issa....din bhal ta qael l-elezzjoni...ta l-AD...Ma ahniex nemmnukom issa u aktar ma tippruvaw aktar ma nemmnukomx...
Mr G Mangion
Jul 26th 2011, 18:45
@ Christopher Scerri
Quote: Come on Mr.Rizzo...hsibtna tc-cajt lilna...tlifna kull fiducja issa.)
And you cant Inclide Every body !!!
The C.O.P are doing thee utmost Against Crime Police Keep Your Good Work Going No Matter....
MR Ben
Jul 26th 2011, 16:46
proset ta xol li jamlu il puluzija , u halijkom mil politika jekk bnidem kiser il ligi irid ipati u min u , rajt hafna comments fuq update lohra li hafna nies qallu qisna fiz zmien 80s jew 70s hahaha veru ma tafux xint tajdlu meta tqablu dak iz zmien ma tal luwm ta . proset il korp tal puluzija u proset il partit nazjonalista li nies bhal dawn mandiex xnambuwom fil partit .
Mr Ivan M. Dingli
Jul 26th 2011, 17:31
Filfatt Sur Ben, hafna drabi huma nies tal-PN li jhobbu jqablu dak iz-zmien mal-gurnata ta llum. Pero inti l-ewwel wiehed li qed issemmi li ma tistax tipparaguna dawn iz-zewg periodi differenti. Nispera li tibqa tiftakar il-kliem tieghek stess.
jack bristow
Jul 26th 2011, 16:45
So the joints were 10 instead of 1 as reported.
This is quite a different picture of the case, what should the police do, let him sell the drug?
Chris Engerer is apparently no role model.
Just let the cops do their job.
Charles Micallef
Jul 26th 2011, 16:43
What a coincidence..pull the other one its got bells on!
Paul A. Camilleri
Jul 26th 2011, 16:41
Mhux hekk Sur Commissioner, Hu halluna!!!!
Mr Ronald Cauchi
Jul 26th 2011, 16:41
Methinks he doth protest too much! If it smells like a fish and looks like a fish the odds are it is a FISH.