The past days have seen the unfolding of the “Cyrus” drama, which is certain to keep the Maltese political agenda on the front burner during the long hot days of our Mediterranean summer. So many things have happened in such a few days.

First we had Cyrus Engerer resigning from the Nationalist Party following the Prime Minister’s no to the people’s verdict on divorce. A legitimate thing to do. But, two minutes later, the same Mr Engerer joined the Labour Party. This move, at such a quick pace, in my opinion dented the political credibility of the young man. But these things happen in politics.

Then, in the space of a few days, the scene moved from the political to the criminal. First, Cyrus Engerer’s father, Christopher, was arrested because he was allegedly found in possession of five grams of marijuana and, a couple of days later, the police filed charges against Cyrus Engerer himself, accusing him, among other things, of circulating pornographic material via e-mail.

Let there be no mistake. If these two accusations are proven to be true, we are confronted with two criminal offences, according to Maltese law. Personally, I would be against the arrest of victims of drug abuse if the amount of drugs is for personal use. On the other hand, I would fall like a ton of bricks on whoever is trafficking drugs. I am not an expert in this area and, therefore, I have no idea whether five grams is a big amount or whether it is just for personal consumption. Anyway, irrespective of my opinion, as the law stands now, Cyrus Engerer’s father is being investigated in connection with a criminal offence.

What is “fishy” in this affair is the timing. That Christopher Engerer has had drug problems is a well-known fact, ever since 1992 or 1993 when he was the only guest on a Radio 101 night programme and presented as an example of a person who had successfully managed to kick the habit. Unfortunately, as he himself admits, he has not kicked the habit at all with regard to marijuana. Now, if the police have known for years on end that he is a “joint” relapser, why did they raid him just after his son defected to Labour?

As for Cyrus Engerer, if the accusation against him is proven to be true, then he really has committed a serious criminal offence. I am sure most readers have in the past had relationships that did not work out with a former boyfriend or girlfriend, wife or husband, mistress or lover. The end of a love affair is something we have all experienced. Such is life! But do we go about posting photos of our naked ex-partner in revenge, as Mr Engerer is accused of having done? Of course not. Such vindictive behaviour is not worthy of civilised persons in my opinion. In this case, we are, of course, still speaking about police allegations and one will remain innocent until proven otherwise.

Again, what is “fishy” here is the timing. Once these accusations go back over a year and a half, why is it that the police acted only now? Because Cyrus Engerer was often in Brussels, was the Police Commissioner’s reply. But, excuse me, isn’t this accusation so serious that it merits prompt action? Was it not possible to interrogate him when he came back visiting his homeland? Would the police have taken it so easy if Cyrus Engerer had not been an active member of the PN at the time? Like it or not, these are questions the normal citizen is asking her/himself.

We then have the head of secretariat at Office of the Prime Minister, Edgar Galea Curmi, phoning up the Police Commissioner to ask about the Engerer cases. By this time, Cyrus Engerer had become a “turncoat” and had joined the rivals at the Labour Party. So Mr Galea Curmi was certainly not trying to help out a party activist. On the contrary, he was trying to help out a Labour candidate. So I do believe him when he says he acted the way he did because of the ties with Cyrus Engerer, who is his godson.

But, I am also godfather of four youngsters and many Maltese are godfathers or godmothers too. Now, if godmother Olga Borg phoned the Police Commissioner to ask about the behaviour of one of her godsons or god-daughters, would he answer the phone? Or would he have Ms Borg strongly reprimanded by some police sergeant? Or, even worse, would he arraign Ms Borg for trying to influence the course of events?

The question here, therefore, is: Did Mr Galea Curmi abuse of his high level office to get in touch with the Police Commissioner on a family affair?

Knowing the way things work in Malta, it will be difficult to get clear answers to these questions. Also, will we ever know how the accusations against Cyrus Engerer were leaked to The Times, thus prejudicing the possibility of the alleged victim of being protected, as per the diktat of the law? Was it somebody from the prosecution? Was it somebody from the police force? Was it somebody from the Prime Minister’s Office? Was it somebody from the law court? Again, knowing the way things work in Malta, I am quite resigned to the idea of not getting any clear answer.

Something is “very, very rotten” in the Kingdom of Denmark.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

Prof. Cassola is spokesman on EU and international affairs of Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green party.