Noel Arrigo released from custody

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 12:14

Why can't people leave God out of it? There is a commandment against taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 10:00

@ Ms D Galea:

Religion is a convenient way of making victims feel guilty when demanding redress.

Hypocrisy is doing so selectively and knowingly.

Does burning innocent people at the stake aptly describe or define "valuri nsara"?

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 08:48

You too? It happens to me regularly.

G Buhagiar

Sep 11th 2011, 13:35

Well said M Vella! I fully agree with your comment: "Since November 2009, our trust in the judiciary will never be the same."

Former Chief Justice Mr Noel Arrigo, Reduced the Credibility in the Courts of Justice!!!

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Sep 11th 2011, 11:52

Defending him after serving his sentence ? You must have a keyboard, that's all

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 11th 2011, 10:42

Forgive me for asking Ms Zahra, but is it a judge's function to be HUMANE or is it a judge's function to be JUST?

To me, HUMANE = lenient and JUST = impartial.

Mr Adrian Borg Cardona

Sep 11th 2011, 11:02

Mr. Vassallo, the greatest judges are those who are both humane and just. I salute my late uncle Stephen Borg Cardona who many will tell you did just that and earned a reputation as one of the best judges in the court dealing with adoptions, seperations and other family matters. Being just alone is not enough. The accused or persons appearing before the judge are human - and that is where being humane comes in.

Alfred Falzon

Sep 11th 2011, 13:37

@ Lynn Zahra

To be humane is to reject all temptation to accept bribes to the detriment of social justice and those who fall victim to criminality!
A Chief Justice must set an example of integrity and incorruptibility to his fellow judges and not undermine the course of justice with dire consequences!
Yes, the people of Malta are still asking searching questions about certain strange decisions that are being taken in our Law Courts and will continue to do so until the day when all Maltese citizens are treated as equals before the law!
There is no room for any kind of apologetics when it's a question of rendering justice, otherwise one might just as well go back to the law of the jungle!

Ms Lynn Zahra

Sep 11th 2011, 14:42

Mr.Vassallo,

When those in a position to judge other were not humane there was cruelty , forget justice. Recall how in WorldWar II those Germans who perpetuated atrocities on Jews and later cited superior orders , also pleaded applying the law . But apply law to the letter brings bad results . A clear example is that of the boy who was given 36months imprisonment as punishment. Do you agree with it? It you don't your'e most humane, at least to me. I practice criminal law and have often been very disappointed with the heavyhandedness of some judges who totally ignore that the real raison d'etre for imprison is for rehabilitation and not merely for punishment.

Ms Lynn Zahra

Sep 11th 2011, 14:45

@Adrian Borg Cardona.

I agree with what you say and that your uncle was truly great as a judge. If only we had more like him.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 03:08

QUOTE: "When those in a position to judge other were not humane there was cruelty , forget justice. Recall how in WorldWar II those Germans who perpetuated atrocities on Jews and later cited superior orders , also pleaded applying the law . But apply law to the letter brings bad results . A clear example is that of the boy who was given 36months imprisonment as punishment. Do you agree with it? It you don't your'e most humane, at least to me. I practice criminal law and have often been very disappointed with the heavyhandedness of some judges who totally ignore that the real raison d'etre for imprison is for rehabilitation and not merely for punishment." UNQUOTE

@ Dr. Lynn Zahra: I beg to disagree with what you argued above.

First of all there is no relationship between (1) being humane, (2) WWll atrocities and (3) the case in discussion.

In the second instance, the boy you are referring to has ignored several chances given to him by courts in previous sentences against him, thus apart from being already a career criminal (albeit under-age), he also chose to go to prison over of what his adjudicator offered him because he demanded to be sent to the YMCA where his straying peers are. Yes I believe the court sentence was deserved because an under-age minor with a gun or a knife is just as deadly as one who is over 18 years of age. There is adequate protection for him if it is needed within the prison system. So if he behaves himself he will only serve 24 months rather than 36.

If you were the Bench, how would you determine who should gain from your humane attributes in two similar cases? Would it be the amount of proof brought before you or the size of the victim's purse? (Please note I said "victim's" not "accused's purse). If the latter, then the law is not equal for everybody; have you seen ALL the sentences handed down in recent manslaughter cases? Have you seen how a young girl is left maimed and without compensation because a judge doesn't understand physics and because he doesn't accept the testimony of multiple witnesses? Are you going to convince me that this is what being humane is about? And who is going to be humane to the maimed surviving-victims of crime or to the relatives of the deceased ones? Will you convince me that being humane to the perpetrator is not borne out of indifference to the victims of crime? We are discussing laws that have been set to protect citizens and (hypothetically) if you are not prepared to observe them, you followed the wrong vocation.

I am sorry ma'am, but I have to disagree with your perception of what prison is for... it exists to afford protection to honest, fragile citizens (such as dear old ladies who are mugged on their way to church) and to deter lazy wannabe criminals from choosing to commit crimes to satisfy their whims. Rehabilitation is pie-in-the-sky and a figment of do-gooders' imagination. Most criminals return to prison sooner or later because for them, the urge to obtain easy money is irresistible. I accept that it is your duty to fight with all your might for the accused's rights, but disagree that laws are there to be bent by lawyers (not present company, I hasten to add) who will stop at nothing to delay or foil justice especially when the client is well-shod.

I can understand that you (not just you) may also find yourself conned by your clients' sob stories and it cannot be easy not to be taken in; as they say, "no one likes to see a grown an cry".

By the way, in case you missed it because it is very far down the list of posts below, I've already stated that I consider that the sentence handed to Noel Arrigo has been served. So we are really on the same side of the fence; what differs is how happy each of us is about it. I also said that a crime by a judge, a police officer or by a politician should be considered as "aggravated" even if not to identical degree. Because we have at least one currently accused of embezzlement pending before the courts, I think that lawyers should also be added to that list.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 08:53

@ Adrian Borg Cardona:

Adoptions, separations and family matters are not criminal events.

But since you bring it up, would you not agree that sentences in separation cases are totally biased in favour of the mother when it comes to child access?

Mr C Briffa

Sep 11th 2011, 10:48

Ask those who were victims of crimes and even lost their loved ones and saw the persons accused of such crimes walk away free or nearly.
God told us to forgive , but He never said that we don't need to pay for our crimes!!

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Sep 11th 2011, 10:15

Oh x'benficcju kien dak tal-vann mikri !!! Meta dehret l-ahbar, jien staqsejt, haga li setghu jaghmlu l-gurnalisti. Il-vann normali kien bil-hsara, u nkera wiehed. Kull van li jigbor u iwassal prigunieri jidhol fil-garage ta' taht il-Qorti. Meta jkun il-vann maghluq, il-gurnalisti u l-fotografi jistghu biss jiehdu ritratt tal-vann, imma mhux wicc il-prigunier. Bil-vann miftuh, jarah Kiccu l-Poplu, pero` l-gurnalisti u l-fotografi jinzertaw jarawh ukoll.

X'lussu ta' beneficcju, hux ????

Paul Konti

Sep 11th 2011, 17:38

Prosit C.J.B.
Tafhom sewwa l-affarijiet. Id-dettalji li tajt huma kollha veri ghax naf nies li gawdew Monte Carmeli u rrakkontawli listess li qed tghid int.

Giovann Demartino

Sep 11th 2011, 20:24

Ma nafx il-kumment tieghek kif jidhol haw, imma tajjeb tkun taf, la dhalt ghaliha, li fi zmien Mintoff msikin hu kien ikun dak l-imhallef li jaqra' xi sentenza li ma ddoqqx ghal widnejn ir-regim. Jekk trid ingiblek elf prova.

Mr P Bonnici

Sep 11th 2011, 11:05

Really? So let's punish all other offenders the same way! This was a travesty of justice and an insult to all law abiding citizens.

Charmaine Marmara'

Sep 11th 2011, 08:48

then he should'nt have done what he did ....justice is for all and yes i would have sent him to corradino and yes in gen pop ....

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 09:15

There are isolated sections in prison and he might have had some choice if those who benefited from his sentence did not protect him.

Did the other judge who was sent to prison over the same case also spend all his time at Mount Carmel? After all, he was a judge too even if he allowed himself to be corrupted by Noel Arrigo. He served his time and there wasn't so much fuss when he came out.

Why all the fuss and why is Peppi who normally "defends" civil rights in the media now attacking those who are expressing their honest opinions? I have never seen him post in The Times online before.

Are we about to see journalists jostling to get an exclusive interview with the infamous judge?

I personally don't want to know any more about him; he served his time and that's that. It seems there are others of the same mind.

Peppi Azzopardi

Sep 11th 2011, 13:29

Jigiefiri jekk qed nifhmek sewwa inti tahseb illi kieku l-ex prim imhallef inghata piena izjed harxa kien ikollna anqas persuni jiehdu d-drogi. Kieku kien hekk naqbel mieghek. Izda jigri propju bil-maqlub. Iktar ma qed inharxu is-sentenzi tal-pushers izjed qed tizdied il-problema tad-droga. Taf ghaliex? Ghax ghazilna it triq il-facli. Li nwahhlu in nies il-habs. Issa kull min huwa drug addict huwa pusher u hafna minnhom , flok fhimna li huma morda, kissirna lilhom u lil familji taghhom. Biex teqred il pushers hemm zewg soluzzjonijiet 1. ghamel id droga kollha legali 2. uza il-flus li jinhlew biex noqghodu naqbdu u nwahhlu lin nies il-habs f'edukazzjoni anke individwali biex minn ckunitna ma niehdux droga. Ahna norgazmaw nippruvaw neqirdu is-supply meta l glieda trid tkun biss fuq id-demand....

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 03:20

@ Peppi Azzopardi:

Peppi jaqaw int ma' tafx li jezistu anki kazi ta' "forced addiction"? X'tiswa l-edukazzjoni biss jekk ser thalli lil-min joqghod ixxamplat mal-bar biex kif iddawar wiccek jitfalek xi bomba fit-tazza tal-birra, biex x'hin igibek kif iridek hu, jibghatek tahdem ghalih?

Li taghmel id-droga legali tnaqqas xi ftit mil-bejjieha (forsi ghax tinsiex l-uzura), imma l-probabilita' hi izzid in-numru ta' dipendenti.

Jekk joghgbok tista tikteb b'l-ingliz ghax ma' nafx nikteb tajjeb il-malti? Din gazzetta b'l-ingliz, le?

Ms D Galea

Sep 11th 2011, 12:19

and the victims of drug-related crimes are six feet under!

Charmaine Marmara'

Sep 11th 2011, 08:49

well said

Alistair Busuttil

Sep 11th 2011, 08:24

tell that to the parents of youngsters who died of drug overdose.He reduced a drug trafficker sentence

Charles Sammut

Sep 11th 2011, 11:36

this is not hatred...the people are showing their disgust at the lack of equal justice in the Laugh Court of the island in the sun..


...and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 12th 2011, 12:12

@ Daniella Camilleri: "QUOTE "Believe you me, the Mount Carmel Forensic Unit is not a hotel - it is worse than a prison!" UNQUOTE

That is interesting... so could you please tell us what makes it worse than prison? For example, was the prisoner denied anything that other prisoners are allowed to have? Did the prisoner have a computer and access to the internet? This is not an assumption and it not an assertion either; nor is it rhetoric; I am genuinely interested.

Please tell us, especially if you have first hand knowledge.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 11th 2011, 08:22

you tell us what they are Mr.Vella.

Mr C Briffa

Sep 11th 2011, 10:32

@ Peppi Hawn hafan familji li ghandhom familjari gewwa l-habs li ma gewx ittratati b'dan il-mod. Ir-reat li ghamel kien ikrah ghax naqqas l-fiducja f' istituzjoni li gewwa pajjiz demokratiku hija tarka w serhan tal-moh, li hadd ma hu l-fuq mil-ligi w li kull min irid issib gustizija ghandu post fejn jista jmur.
Taf int stess li meta kien hemm prigunier b'marda terminali gewwa l-habs dan ma nghatax l-istess tratament, Hafna min nies qed jimxu anke fuq rapporti li kien hawn fil-media li c-cella li kellu giet irrangata ghalih. Dan iwassal li jekk xi hadd kbir jizbalja dan ghandu xi privilegg li jkun ittratat ahjar? Hekk jonqos halli nwasslu l-messag li min hu f-pozizjoni gholja li anke jekk jinqabbad dan ghandu jibqa privillegat.
L-ahhar kumment int ipprova illum mur il-Libja hu ghidilhom sabiex jekk jaqbdu lil Gaddafi dan jghatu sentenza sospiza, tahseb li tkun kredibli?
In-nies ippretendew li l-ligi hi ugwali ghal kullhadd, imma kif jghid il-Malti il-huta z-zghira qatt ma kielet lill .........

Giovann Demartino

Sep 11th 2011, 10:42

Issa naqbel mieghek PEPP. Kieku Arrigo ma kienx li kien kieku m'ahniex qed niddiskutuh haw. Hekk hu. Taf ghala imma? Ghax kieku ma kienx min kien kieku kien iqatta' 22 xahar go habs, mhux go villa.

Nixtieq naf jekk fil-kas ta' xi membtu tal-kleru nirragunawx l-istess jew nippruvawx naharquhom hajjin!

Charles Sammut

Sep 11th 2011, 11:40

Perhaps ( if you are Peppi of Xarabank of course ) you might invite noel on your programme so that he will tell his side of the story...maybe that he was framed....now THAT would be a great "sensazzjoni" for Xarabank!

..and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....

Ms D Galea

Sep 11th 2011, 12:22

Mr Azzopardi, ghandhek dmugh x ixxerred ghal qraba ta' dawk li spiccaw vittmi innocenti minhabba in-negozjar tad-drogi?

Joseph Vassallo

Sep 10th 2011, 20:00

Hallina Pepp trid? Mela issa dawn m'ghadx baqalhom dritt ghall-opinjoni taghhom?

henry spiteri

Sep 10th 2011, 20:03

kultura tal malti dik pep hi l aqwa li mhux jien

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Sep 10th 2011, 20:04

il gustizzja ghanda issir irrelevanti jekk il kriminal hux missierek jew ibnek. dan kien kaz fejn jmissu ghamel ghomru il habs. Dan kien qed jiddeciedu jitfax nies il habs jew le u ixxahham.

Pepp nirrispetta l opinjoni tieghek, pero dan hu genn totali. id dinja ma tistax tkun minghajr habs nkella nispiccaw gungla kif ftit ftit diga qed nispiccaw.

Giovann Demartino

Sep 10th 2011, 20:06

Jiddispjacini Pepp, imma qed tghid hmerija wahda ikbar mill-ohra. Iva kieku jkun missieru nkun nixtieq li jkun liberat, imma jkun min ikun jien inkun naf li jkun ghamel hazin u mhux ser nikkritika lill awtorirajiet. Pepp jekk jien nipparkja hazin ecc ecc nehel multa. Sewwa dan? Kieku tkun int, jew missierek tkun tridu jehilha l-Multa? Min jikser il-ligi jrid ihallas ghal ghermilu u jha;llas bhal haddiehor. Lili jibaghtuni l-habs u lil dan, ghax imhallef, jibaghtuh f'lukanda.. Anzi dak haqqu izjed minni mhabba l-pozizzjoni tieghu. Insejtu kemm kienm haw min xtaq jahraqhom hajjin lil dawk iz-zewg qassisin li abbuzaw mit-tfal.

Cedric Busuttil

Sep 10th 2011, 20:24

Proset Peppi. Naqbel mieghek mijja fill-mijja. Facli niggudikaw lill haddiehor imma jekk jiggudikawna nhossuna ngurjati u diskriminati . Kultant ninsewa l istorja ta' min m' ghandux dnub jitfa l-ewwel gebla !!!
Li kull inidividwu kellu jipprezenta filmat ta hajtu quddiem il Qorti, kieku cert li nofs id dinja jkolla tinbidel f' habs. !!!

Mr marco caruana

Sep 10th 2011, 20:24

qet thallat il hass mal b*** !! l argument principali huwa li jekk ikolli missieri jew hija l habs ta kordin nispicca narah min wara l hadid ! jekk in nannu jew hija jkun L imhallef immur namilu vizta go gnien sabih kollu fjuri xhin irrid go post ta nies li ma jissejjahx habs !

Mr Chris Grillo

Sep 10th 2011, 20:41

Rari naqbel mieghek, imma b'dan il 'post' ninzalek il kappell. Quote "Meta mmur il-habs dejjem nilmah lil hija, lil missieri, lili nnifsi fil-prigunieri."..... verament vera...... verament vera.....

Touche'.....

Mr Paul Caruana

Sep 10th 2011, 20:43

Actually, I think the real issue is the perception, perhaps wrongly so, that this particular individual was given preferential treatment when most, again perhaps wrongly, feel that because of the position that he occupied and the case on which he was found guilty of corrupt practice (l.e. as Chief Justice while hearing the appeal of a high profile drug case) he should actually have been given a stiffer sentence than would be the norm.

And what has imagining a prisoner as yourself or a member of your family got to do with it? By that reasoning, no one should ever be sent to prison, no matter what crime he might have committed! That is why relatives are not allowed to sit on the jury of family members in such situations.

Mr robert micallef

Sep 10th 2011, 20:49

and the same can be said for people pushing for lighter sentences....just imagine if the victim is their son, father, mother ??

R. Lewis

Sep 10th 2011, 20:54

taf ghaliex titkellem hekk ghax fortunatment ma kellek hadd jigi minnek li miet b'xi overdose. Ara dawk il genituri jew qraba li forsi sfortunatament tilfu lill xi hadd mill familja ma jirragunawx bhalek. Kieku il ligi ta Malta serja ma kontx inwahhlu gurnata wahda habs, pero kont nikkonfiskalu kull m'ghandu Sur Azzopardi la kienet l-ewwel darba, (li gie ipproccessat). U mhux ovvja li il forka qeghda hemm ghal l-izvinturat, mela hsibtna minn wara il-muntanji. Imbaghad tisma b'xi kaz ta xi guvni jew tfajla u naghmlu show bihom. John Bundi biss serju meta kiteb id diska 'Pajjiz tal Mickey Mouse".

Mr Charles Miceli

Sep 10th 2011, 21:25

Naqbel perfettament.

Miriam Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 21:34

Proset! My thoughts exactly.....some people have nothing better to do than pass vindictive comments. I wonder if this makes them feel better as human beings. If it does, then I feel sory for them, rather than the person who's the subject of their comments.They must be leading very sad lives. Move on people...the sun has set... tomorow is another day!!

Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Sep 10th 2011, 21:55

"Nixtieq inkun naf kieku Dr Noel Arrigo kien missier, hu jew in nannu ta dawn li qed jiktbu jitkazaw u jixtiequ l-vendetta, x kienu qed jiktbu bhalissa. Tiskanta u titnixxef kif kienu jbiddlu d diska...."

on the other hand, Peppi, had you daughter, son, wife, mother father etc been a victim of such unlawful acts what your reaction would have been?
Why do people write in Maltese on an English online paper??

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Sep 10th 2011, 22:03

Prosit Pepp ta` dawna l-hsibijiet nobbli li qiueghed tesprimi. Fi kliemek nara n-nisrani genwin. Hadd ma jista` jikundanna lil hadd jekk ma jkunx fl-istorja u n-nisga tal-fatti veru kif sehhew. Jiena kont u certament nibqa` habib tal-Avukat NOEL ARRIGO - sar Avukat u dak huwa pregju li ma jista` jehodulu hadd. Hemm hafna x`tikkummenta kif isieru certu affarijiet u xi hatrit gewwa d-demokrazija [ sic!!! ] taghna. Bosta mhux qed jaraw jew jilhmu t-travu li ghandhom,mhux hekk ? Prosit ghal darb`ohra Pepp.

Joseph Agius

Sep 10th 2011, 22:14

Pepp ma tistax toqoghod tirraguna kif qieghed tirraguna int.
Huwa fatt li l istorja tinbidel jekk l akkuzat ser ikun xi hadd tal familja izda bl istess mod jekk il-vittma nghidu ahna f xi kaz ta omicidju ikun xi hadd qrib tieghek l istorja tinbidel ukoll u wiehed probabli ikun jixtieq li l akkuzat jiehu l-ghar kastig possibli jekk mhux il-mewt.

M. Bezzina

Sep 10th 2011, 22:50

U ejja pepp hallina minnek..hadd muwa pur fuq din id dinja mela tajjeb fuq il qassisin ghamilna panigirku mhux qed nghid li mamlux hazin ta imma comeon mela fuq il qassisin ghamilna kqazi xahar kuljum nisimaw u naraw fuqom u daw l imhallfin kollha hargu scot free!!! daw ma jimpurtax.Le jekk ikun iz ziju , hija , ommi jekk haqqom il habs iwa jihdu dak li haqqhom .......rigward it trattament gol habs dak huwa xi haga ohra.Ma jfissirx li ghax wehilt il habs andi nkun trattat ta annimal.Wara kollox huma nies bhalna avolja ghamlu xi forma ta deni lil xi hadd!!!

James Catania

Sep 10th 2011, 23:39

Sur peppi,

Ahna ma ghandiex ghalfejn nitkazaw ghax ahna nies twajba li nosservaw il ligi, inhallsu it taxxi , ma naccetawx li naghmlu affarijiet illegali ghax ghanda silsa tad-dhar soda. Kieku kien hija / missieri / jew xi hadd iehor nighd haqqu xorta ghax ha dak li haqqu (dament li jiehu dak li haqqu). Barra li hemm differenza kbira milli tkun kriminal u tkun dak li SUPPOST qed tara li il ligi tigi osservata.

U jekk joghbok Peppi, taghmilx umbrella statements bhas soltu, ghax tiskanta u titnixxef int li ahna ma ghandiex dnubiet (fis sens ta ligi) x'nahbu. Iktar tbezzani li xi hadd li suppost ikun dejjem imparzjali (emphasis on "suppost") jitkellem b'dan il mod.

Steven Agius

Sep 10th 2011, 23:52

Kulhadd jizbalja vera Pep, imma jrid ikun hemm deterent sew biex dak li jkun jahsibha darbtejn, qabel jizbalja. U bl istess argument tieghek meta jkun missierek ommok jew ohtok li tkun sfat vitma ta xi kriminal hekk tkun tixtieq li jaqfluh u jarmu ic cavetta.

Christine Attard

Sep 11th 2011, 00:08

If he was family i'd move town i'd change my name. He is a disgrace to all the honest people who do a good job not only in the justice field but any honest job. BTW he didnt pass 1 hour in jail he spent this time in a converted office in Mount carmel.

Mr Clyde Ellul

Sep 11th 2011, 01:39

Well said!

Mario Micallef

Sep 11th 2011, 07:26

nahseb li l-kwistjoni, mhux jekk ghandux ikollna habs jew le, jew xi thoss, meta xi hadd mill-familja, jmur il-habs, izda l-mizien tal-gustizzja.Ghandna naraw ilkoll flimkien, jekk il-gustizzja hiex qed tigi mplimentata, kif jixraq.Nahseb ukoll, li ghandna naraw, jekk iz-zmien, li qabel tinghata sentenza, naraw min ikun,nahseb li kullhadd jaqbel, li kellna hafna u hafna kazi, fejn kien hawn kjass shieh, ghax is-sentenza, ma kienitxugwali, jew kienet ferm inqas, ghax kien dak u mhux l-iehor.
L-argument tieghek, Sur Azzopardi, huwa ftit skifuz, ghax kull inmate ghandu familja, allura nabolixxu l-habs, u kullhadd jispara fuq xulxin, x'hin irid, ghax ghandi familjari li jinkwetaw, jekk immur il-habs?
Fl-ahhar, nahseb li ikbar m'inti, ikbar hemmtek, pozizzjoni bhall dik, nahseb li ghamlet hsrar miljun darba, milli kieku ghamilniha jiena jew inti Sur Azzoprdi.

Joe Spiteri Gauci

Sep 11th 2011, 07:27

Pepp, jista jkun hija jew missieri ghax xorta haqqu l-habs, la kellu pusizzjoni lu SUPPOST jara li dawn l-affarijiet ma jsierux u ghamilhom hu , suppost il-ligi hija ghal kulhadd li stess, nerga nghid SUPPOST

Noel Xerri

Sep 11th 2011, 07:50

Agreed 100% with Peppi Azzopardi & Dr. Joe Brincat

G Buhagiar

Sep 10th 2011, 20:41

Naqbel perfettament ma' dak li ghidt. Sintendi la dan kien Imhallef ma kienx ha jmur il-habs ta' Kordin, fuq nota simili, probabbilment anke l-eks qassisin li nsatbu hatja fuq abbuzi, l-isptar Monte Carmeli jispiccaw.

Ma jaghmilx sens il-kliem ta' Peppi Azzoppardi, huwa veru li kulhadd midneb imma skuzi ta, ta dak li taghmel trid tpatti ghalih. Mela xi hadd jaghmel reat u ghax nithassruh nghidulu mur id-dar! Nistghu naghlqu l-habs mela. Jekk hemm min qed jitratta hazin lill-pruginieri dak ghandhom jaraw min imexxi. Minghand certu nies nistennew certu attitudni, l-Imhallef Arrigo naqqas il-Kredibbilta

Ms D Galea

Sep 10th 2011, 20:43

Certa nies jixerrdu id-dmugh tal-kukkudril ghal hatja u qrabathom , u mhux ghal vittmi innocenti u qrabathom u id-drittijiet taghhom.

Peppi Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2011, 18:46

x taghlim u valuri nsara....tixtiequ jibqa marid siehbi? possibbli?

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Sep 11th 2011, 10:27

Don't kid yourself; he wasn't kept at the hospital because of mental illness. It was a question of safeguarding him from other prisoners. It is incumbent on the establishment to do so.

I don't comment on whether this was the only option available because I don't know what other facilities exist at CCF.

But I must admit, it does look rather preferential from the outside (where I am).

Irrespective, the sentence has been served.

Ms D Galea

Sep 11th 2011, 12:25

@Mr Azzopardi,
x ghandhom x jaqsmu il-valuri Insara f pajjiz li hu sekulari u ala biebu mir-religjon?
Mela int wiehed min dawk li tisserva bil kelma "valuri insari" biex minghalik titmellah bin-nies?

Miriam Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 18:54

well said!

Mr Chris Grillo

Sep 10th 2011, 20:42

To somebody like Dr.Arrigo, the loss of so many social events (including a quiet life) is enough to cause nightmares.

The man has served his sentence....

Charles Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 22:40

Peppi.....do you think, really and honestly think that " tinqabad, titressaq il qorti u tiehu li haqqek.".....do you think noel got what he deserved?
It has nothing to do with vendetta..it has to do with justice and it should be so that the punishment will fit the crime! Do you think 22 months for this guy's crime is enough? He was'nt even made to forfeit the dirty 30 pieces of silver he was paid to protect a drug pusher!

..and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on.....

Robert Xuereb Archer

Sep 10th 2011, 23:56

nisimghu minn peppi u naghlqu l-habs alllura..halluna
victor

Charles Sammut

Sep 11th 2011, 13:19

that's right Pepp.....noel should have been given community work.....collecting rubbish and chasing behind Garbage trucks...now THAT would have been the ideal punishment for this criminal!
Or perhaps working at Sedqa so that he would have gotten a first hand experience of the kind of poor destroyed lives that the disgraced chief justice was helping create by helping drug pushers like mario camilleri!

...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......

Paul Konti

Sep 10th 2011, 17:39

Le Peppi mhux vendetta. Pero naqbel mieghek li kien ikun ahjar kieku nghata xoghol fil-komunita.

Ma naqbilx mieghek li meta wiehed jitressaq quddiem il-qorti jiehu dak li haqqu. Ahseb ftit fuq kazi, li kulhadd jaf bihom, fejn wiehed jiehu piena harxa hafna aktar minn iehor ta' l-istess att kriminali. U tghidlix li skond ic-cirkustanzi. Hemm sentenzi ukoll (kwazi identici) fuq atti sesswali fejn wiehed inghata sentenza ta' erba' snin habs waqt li iehor inghata sentenza sospiza! Din mhux gustizzja. Jien nahseb li hemm korruzzjoni kbira.

Il-habs ta' Kordin mhux iservi ta' korrezzjoni imma ta' korruzzjoni. U, Alla jbierek, hadd ma jinvestiga biss-serjeta. Nixtieq nista nitkellem car fuq dak li naf bieh jiena. Forsi xi darba ncempillek u nkellmek privatament.

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Sep 10th 2011, 18:01

Peppi, dak li ma jafux in-nies li qed jikkumentaw huwa li l-ligi, fiz-zmien li sar il-fatt, kienet tahseb ghal massimu ta' 3 snin habs. Dan ma kienx recidiv. Kieku kienet titla'. Illum inbidlet u l-massimu sar 8 snin.

Naturalment kien l-ewwel reat tieghu, u ha l-piena ta' habs. Kemm kien hemm nies li ghamlu hafna u hafna flus mill-korruzzjoni u gew processati u ma nghatawx habs, jintesew.

Is-sentenza tieghu kienet li kienet, u hu hallas. Hallas aktar minn wiehed li mar il-habs u sparixxa u hadd ma jafu.

Li ma jafux in-nies huwa wkoll li l-Forensic Unit huwa habs ukoll. Dan jezistu bhalu f'pajjizi ohra.

Ma naghata l-ebda mahfra aktar minn haddiehor. Min jehel 18-il sena habs, jaf li se jaghmel 12, l-aktar jekk igib ruhu sewwa.

Id-direzzjoni tal-habs, meta jkollha prigunier bhal dak, ikollha wkoll problemi. X'taghmel bih ? Tpoggih ma' ohrajn li forsi kien hu fl-appell taghhom u kkonferma s-sentenza taghhom ? Dan mhux l-uniku kaz ta' problemi. Meta jkun hemm xi hadd arrestat fuq akkuza li abbuza mill-minorenni, wkoll id-habs ikollhom problema, ghax hati jew mhux hati, mhux darba jew tnejn, l-arrestat jaqla' xebgha. Naf b'kaz ta' wiehed li gie liberat, imma sakemm dam arrestat, ix-xebgha kien qalaghha. Kien gie liberat fuq ix-xiehda tal-hbieb tat-tfajla stess !!

Il-Qorti Ewropea ghad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem u L-Kunsill tal-Ewropa ilhom jinsistu fuq it-trattament tal-prigunieri. Sahansitra l-Qorti Ewropea waslet li qalet li l-piena ghal ghomor minghajr tama ta' parole huwa trattament inuman.

Hemm nies fil-habs li tant igibu ruhhom tajjeb u bezlin li jhalluhom jahdmu. Hemm hafna xoghol tal-lavur fil-gebla li ghamlu prigunier.

naf wiehed li sahansitra mill-habs iggradwa l-Universita`. Iltqajt mieghu l-Qorti, din id-darba gie bhala xhud ghan-nom tal-kumpanija li jahdem maghha.

Kemm hu facli li taghfas il-buttuni ta' computer !!!

Giovann Demartino

Sep 11th 2011, 06:53

@ Dr Brincat: I do hope, then, that those two priest found guilty of corrupting chn will NOT be sent to prison for the same reasons mentioned by Dr. Brincat. They should share the same room prepared for the judge.

Charmaine Marmara'

Sep 11th 2011, 08:51

i mela aqta x kontribut kien jghamel lil malta pep ...hallina

Ms D Galea

Sep 11th 2011, 12:31

ejja nghalqu il qrati u naghtu is-sensja lil avukati magistrati imhallfin u pulizija, u nhallu lil kullhadd jaghmel li jrid. Aqta kemm timxi il-quddiem is-socjeta imbaghad.

Paul Konti

Sep 11th 2011, 17:29

@ Dr Joe Brincat
"Peppi, dak li ma jafux in-nies li qed jikkumentaw huwa li l-ligi, fiz-zmien li sar il-fatt, kienet tahseb ghal massimu ta' 3 snin habs."
Mela allura ghandna qorti tal-ligijiet u mhux qorti tal-gustizzja. Fl-injoranza tieghi (ghax jien mhux avukat) inhoss li min ghamel ir-reat kellu jkun iggudikat fuq dak li wettaq fil-waqt li tittiehed konsiderazzjoni tal-gravita vis-s-vis sentenzi horox li f'dan il-kaz l-akkuzat kien ta lil ohrajn. Hekk biss tista ssir gustizzja gusta. Nifhem li ghandu jkun hemm massimu ta' sentenza. Imma kieku imhallef ikun wahhalni p.e. 20 sena habs fuq kas ta' droga, inhossni urtat hafna li hu jehel hafna inqas minni fuq kas li ghandu x'jaqsam mad-droga. Nispera li qieghed niftiehem tajjeb. Nixtieq naghmilha cara li jien qed inqajjem dal-punt sempliciment ghax nixtieq nara bidla fil-qrati biex issir gustizzja.

Peppi, nissuggerilek li ttella program ta' diskussjoni biex forsi nsibu soluzzjoni ta' kif ghandna nittrattaw ma' nies li jiksru l-ligi. Jiena wkoll kontra l-piena ta' prigunerija.

Jean-Pierre Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 20:27

Brilliant post !

Paul Konti

Sep 10th 2011, 17:23

For one thing, it's a matter of WHO you know. It also depends on WHO you are. And last but not least, how cleverly your lawyer presents your case!

J Mifsud

Sep 10th 2011, 17:50

I think that the answer is : Some people are more equal than others!

Mr Alex Buds

Sep 11th 2011, 02:29

Very true. Drug sentences worldwide seem way out of whack compared to other crimes. You can get considerably less time for murder in many countries including Malta.

Mr martin chetcuti

Sep 10th 2011, 16:30

@Edgar Azzopardi
Of course Malta Cattolicissima, tridtx intuh santa for good behaviour ?

2 weights 2 measures dak zgur...

Joseph Vassallo

Sep 10th 2011, 16:55

Why do you have to bring religion into an otherwise healthy comment?

Edgar Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2011, 17:49

@Joseph Vassallo

I dont know if your comment is meant for me or for the gentlemen who brought in holy pictures into the picture !!

Just in case it is for me and my commnet re Malta cattolicissima, this is what I have to say: I did not bring in religion. I brought in morality - the morality of all those maltese who love to draw blood from every sad situation; who enjoy reading the most disgusting of blogs; who enjoy watching people be humiliated and offended. My comment was for those who step up the high moral ground , while their own private lives are a mess.

You might not be one of these Mr Vassallo, but you will certainly agree that Malta is far too full of these people.....and yes these people exist everywhere...but at least other countries do not pretend to be holier that the vatican.

My point was simple : let this man and his family be. They have suffered enough from this astromonical mistake. Contrary to the impression given, being locked up and your freedom taken away, does not make it any easier if you are locked up in a golden cage.

Also as the Maltese proverb goes: jekk il hmar jara hobtu, jaqa u jmut zoptu...so lets all calm down and not act like a pack of bloodhounds!

Joseph Vassallo

Sep 10th 2011, 20:20

@ Edgar Azzopardi, Without wishing to offend, Sir....

QUOTE: "My comment was for those who step up the high moral ground , while their own private lives are a mess.... You might not be one of these Mr Vassallo, but you will certainly agree that Malta is far too full of these people..." UNQUOTE.

Don't you think that what I quoted above puts you in the same bracket with those feeling they are "holier than thou"? Do you really believe you are entitled to decide whose private life is a mess?

Just leave religion out of it because this is a civil matter not a religious one. They made their cpomment and you and I made ours (mine was at 10:47 this morning).

Your comment was a valid one and was only spoiled by your final remark. If Malta wants to pretend to be holy, so be it; you and I can both surely see right through the false ones.

Seldom are written laws stronger than unwritten ones that are supported by public opinion.

Joe Spiteri Gauci

Sep 10th 2011, 15:39

Sorry ta'.....int min qallek li l-Mulej ser jahfer. Mela ma tafx x'hemm miktub fil-ktieb ta' l-Apokalissi, li ghad jigi zmien tal-gudizzju (Gudizzju Universali), u min ghex hajja hazina ser jiehu il-kastig, u min jghix hajja tajba jiehu il-premju ta dejjem......mela allura il-Mulej ukoll jaghmel gustizzja u ma jhares lejn wicc hadd, tkun xi tkun il-posizzjoni tieghek. Ara l-ligi ta din id-dinja thares lejn l-ucuh.

George Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2011, 15:40

int qed tghid hekk ghax qatt ma kellek xi sentenza tinqatamin tahtu forsi?

Mr Jo Camm

Sep 10th 2011, 16:53

Sur Joe Spiteri Gauci, għalli jista' jkun taf li jezisti l-qrar u li kull min iqerr Alla jaħfirlu? Allura għaliex tikteb hekk?

Mr Robert Agius

Sep 10th 2011, 17:24

let's get everyone out of prison then...

Mr Angus Black

Sep 10th 2011, 12:43

There is nothing "ta l-arukaza about this. Serving twenty-two months of a thirty-three month sentence represents two-thirds of the original sentence.

This is an international practice and felons are released after serving two-thirds of their sentence handed to them, if they have a record of good conduct during their imprisonment.

Arukaza is that anyone capable of using a keyboard rattles a comment before he checks facts.

Mr Vincent Cassar

Sep 10th 2011, 18:00

Sur Black...inti qatt kont il-forensic division tal-isptar Monte Carmeli? Ma nahsibx ghax kieku ma tikkumentax hekk. Altru tiskonta is-sentenza go cella il-habs ta' Kordin u altru milli tiskontaha go taparsi ward imma fejn int tkun qisek papa zghir u ghandek kollox mieghek. Iva Sur Black...Gharukaza!

Mr Angus Black

Sep 10th 2011, 19:19

@ Vincent Cassar

Noel Arrigo was placed at Monte Carmeli for a reason, probably certified by more than one psychiatrist, to be suffering from some kind of ailment. So, I ask you; had you been Chief Justice, and made a mistake(s) and all of a sudden you are found guilty, stripped of your status and having your reputation shattered, would you just grin and say 'heqq hekk kellu jkun' and continue with your life? You will not get depressed and dejected? So why kick someone harder when he is already down?

Being in, as some described the Monte Carmeli room where Arrigo served the last 22 months as being 'just like a hotel room', you forget that the hardest part of the sentence is the loss of liberty, the loss of doing what one wants to do and when to do it and the fear that at the end of the sentence, he will have to face familiar faces which, the last they had seen him, was when he was still Chief Justice

Adele Mintoff

Sep 10th 2011, 14:01

Sewwa qed tghid !!!

Frank Borg

Sep 10th 2011, 13:56

And if you do not pay it in time.... it's doubled! And if you do not find the ticket on the windshield and do not receive the tribunal notice, it's doubled just the same, because it's your word against theirs!

Anthony Borg

Sep 10th 2011, 14:24

Now this is a very sensible comment.
Perhaps someone can elaborate further.

J Degabriele

Sep 10th 2011, 10:38

I don't think that he needed to learn any lessons. He was not a silly teenager. He held one of the most reponsible jobs on the island. He was supposed to teach others lessons! He used to stand in judgement on others! How awesome is that. And he blew it all through greed. He thought of nobody, not even his own family. I don't believe he got enough punishment considering the seriousness of his crime.

Victor Pulis

Sep 10th 2011, 11:54

I am positive that Mr. Arrigo is good company and a pleasnt conversationalist. After all he is a well read and learned man. He is not the typical criminal we all imagine, that is someone carrying weapons, swearing, and picking fights etc.. His guard had no reason not to be relaxed as I cannot imagine the prisoner in his care ever contemplating an escape or some other mischief!
But the crime committed is amplified by the position he held. We are talking Chief Justice here. crimes committed by the judiciary, politicians, police, priests, teachersand other public officers and the like are more serious than crimes committed by other sections of the community for obvious reasons. Anyway, I hope, no I'm sure Mr Arrigo has learnt his lesson and may he continue with his life.

Elizabeth Micallef

Sep 10th 2011, 14:26

It is good to see a kind comment judging Noel purely on the companionship enjoyed during your week together in hospital. I do not condone but, having lived abroad for many years, all I know of Noel is the memory of a bonny teenager who was one of our group of friends. So good luck Noel and may the future be a better one.

mark borg

Sep 10th 2011, 14:32

Would you speaking the same if one of your children was a drug abuser and when for once,a big traffic dealear is brought to justuice, only to find a (cheap) corrupt system and let him go ? your argument, because you met this man in hospital and that he is a nice person makes no sense at all . So according to you ,anyone who has a nice charachter and is in prison,should be set free? or perhaps you have a hidden agenda?

ruth dimech

Sep 10th 2011, 10:17

Good one... they have already one .. MOUNT CARMEL CLUB CLASS DIVISION!!!!!!!!!!

M. Aquilina

Sep 10th 2011, 10:58

100% true

Noel Mifsud

Sep 10th 2011, 14:19

Allura min hu l SPtar u ilu hemmhekk snin ghax wehel piena mill Qorti ? Jekk kellu bzonn il kura medika jehoda u kif jghaddilu jitfawh il habs u jamel is sentenza hemm bhal haddiehor. Il mard li gab fuqu hu gabu biex ikompli jistana, mhux Act of God, allura ma ghandix x taqsam li ghedt int li he made his time. He choose to make his time in hospital instead of prison and the Court accepted his decision.

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 10th 2011, 10:01

You dont need to jump for joy .we jumped for joy when you lost the last election.

Joseph Vassallo

Sep 10th 2011, 10:56

@ Paul Giordimaina: Jump for joy if that is your inclination but I see no joy from not having J. Brincat in parliament, because I always remember him being straight even though his party destroyed my career in the 70s.

J Brincat merits our respect and he certainly commands mine. You can never put down a paladin, Paul.

Charles Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 10:13

But this is the island in the sun..where bananas grow rampant Bill!!
I also remember in Australia many moons ago, the Customs Minister had to resign...the reason???
He brought a Paddington Bear from England as a pressie for his wife and he did not declare it at airport customs.
I further remember the Prime Minister of Australia getting fined for not wearing a seat belt in his car!!
Can you imagine the "leader" of GonziPN and of the banana republic getting fined for not wearing a seat belt?!?

...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on......

Mark Anthony Caruana

Sep 10th 2011, 09:12

In a way i agree with you, because the psychological stress suffered by his family and himself ever since 2002 must have been quite a lot...

on the other hand, the charges brought against Dr. Arrigo were extremely serious. Furthermore the accused knew exactly what he was doing and the possible consequences his family and himself could face if he were to be caught! I am sorry to say but if Dr. Arrigo wants to blame anyone for all the stress caused to his family - then he should blame himself.


however i will refrain from commenting on the the length of the prison term... I think that facts are clear enough to anyone...

Victor Pulis

Sep 10th 2011, 09:45

What you said is true but it also applies to all condemned prisoners. Their families suffer with them.

Mr Joe Caruana

Sep 10th 2011, 09:21

Mr Borg, the dictionary defines the word "condone" as meaning give your approval, overlook, close your eyes to, acknowledge. I don't think that's what you meant. Surely you meant "trading in influence by people in public positions" should NOT be tolerated.

john muscat

Sep 10th 2011, 10:04

I agree with you. "condone" is the right word, and Mr, Caruana missed the "prank".

Anthony Thorne

Sep 10th 2011, 09:03

is-simbolu li qed issemmi int inbidel.....

Mr M Farrugia

Sep 10th 2011, 09:11

gharukaza mhux il-gustizja imma min jaghmel il-ligijiet. Jekk hemm ligi li tghati dan id-dritt ghandu juza kull min jista mhux dan l-imhallef biss. allura hemm bzonn li l-parlamentari taghna jara hekk din hix gusta u jekk le tinbidel. MPs kollha araw din il-ligi u bhal ma ghamiltu dwar id-divorzju ghax kif ghidu inthom jaqbel ghal poplu bidluwa. Tkunux imthom bil-maktur ma ghajnejnkom imma kun u bil-mizin bilancjat sewwa f'idejnkom

Mr M Farrugia

Sep 10th 2011, 09:16

dak li kien tajjeb 80 sena ilu mhux bilfors huwa tajjeb ghal illum allura isir it-tibdil. 80 sena ilu ma kienx hawn divorzju imma illum l-affarijiet inbidlu u inhas li ghandu jkun hawn id-dovorzju. Mela bhal ma inbidlu ligijiet ta zmien zemzem jew saru ligijiet godda hekk ghandu isir dwar din il-bicca ligi. Kaz tipiku li semma Dr. Brincat huwa ta Giga. Hemm hafna u hafna kazi ohra bhal dan. L-ewwel noqtol nisraq ect imbaghad noqghod kwiet u titnaqqasli s-sentenza hekk sewwa. Gustizja ma kulhadd din tissejjah

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 10th 2011, 09:32

What exactly is your point Dr. Brincat?

M Vella***

Sep 10th 2011, 09:41

Dr Brincat,we are talking about chief justice here and not some Tom,Dick or Harry but the person who ruined our trust in the judiciary,but in Malta some animals are more animals then others.

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Sep 10th 2011, 09:53

Mr Buttigieg. Why all this clamour ? That is the point. One has to serve his sentence according to law. That law includes the Prison Regulations, and if Parole were to be introduced into Malta, that law would also apply.

I was just checking and I came across a release on parole in Australia. The case was sexual assault and murder. He was released after 14 years !

When a person enters prison, his sentences is calculated as days. From that one third is calculated as deductable. The inmate is informed that subject to good behaviour he would be released on that day.

While at it, if he commits a criminal offence, this has to be decided in court, and cannot be calculated as misbehaviour. He must answer for his offence and his punishment may be much higher than elimination of his marks for good behaviour. Our Constitutional Court has decided that deducting marks for a crime committed while in prison risks to be a res judicata, and a person cannot be tried or punished twice.

Charles Sammut

Sep 10th 2011, 10:39

So..Doctor Joe.....we get the gist of your Legal knowledge regarding remission etc..etc...etc....
One cans see that you are well versed in the intricacies of the legal world.
Now, in your humble and learned opinion,do you feel that REAL JUSTICE was served upon this convicted criminal who brought more shame ( which it is already enjoying ) to your profession and to the Highest Office in the Laugh Courts of the island in the sun ??
Do you feel that 22 months awarded to THE Chief Justice for accepting bribes from a drug dealer is a "punishment" that fits this serious crime?
Do you ever wonder how come noel was'nt even made to forfeit the Euro11,650.00 bribe that he was convicted of accepting??
Do feel disgusted that arrigo is still called a Dr ?

...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on........


...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on......

Mr martin chetcuti

Sep 10th 2011, 12:05

@Joe Brincat-LL.D
Appuntu Dott the point is that it was a ''Good Bargain'' 22months = 33months for Good behaviour!!!!!. Jekk toqhod bravu intuk santa hux hekk kienu jghidulna.

Klaus Pedersen

Sep 10th 2011, 08:45

You seem surprised Mr. Laiviera ?
There are people who have their own schools, their own parking, their own hospitals etc. Of course they also have their own prisons. Why should they not be sheltered from the rif raf there also?

Mr M Farrugia

Sep 10th 2011, 09:18

Klaus Pedersen. Tippruvax iddahhal il-klassi ghax kien hemm kazi ohra bhal dan jekk mhux aghar

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 10th 2011, 09:41

You are right Victor.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 10th 2011, 09:29

Don't laugh because its real. Cry and bang your head on the ground.

Mr Paul Micallef

Sep 10th 2011, 08:38

Isma everybody makes mistakes ta, he hast lost everything, credebility, his post, pension. I am not saying that what he did was right, but as my lord JESUES teaches me, He who is pure of sin cast the first stone.
I am a sinner, yes i am not perfict, as most of us are, i do read the bible and i do not use it for my own needs and quote it when i want, i do not use the word of JESUES in the KAZIN as to prove a point with a friend or punter, this country is full of people who JUDGE but do not like to be JUDGED. In my opinion he has been punished enough.

Mr M Farrugia

Sep 10th 2011, 09:22

I endorse what you said re-the Bible. From a legal point of view he did nothing wrong that he is being released. This is a right which the law gives him. We much be critising the law not the peson involved. may God Bless him and he realise the mistake he did. Courage Dear citizen and remember the Lord in your prayers