Vince Farrugia assault case: Lawyer reveals more SMSs, witness admits lying under oath
"We must blacken his name with all ministers and parliamentary secretaries, MPs and authorities so that nobody trusts him and nobody touches him. He is a leper. We must hit him from all angles. No mercy." - Vince Farrugia about Sandro Chetcuti
Vince Farrugia
The defence lawyer for Sandro Chetcuti, who stands accused of seriously injuring GRTU Director General Vince Farrugia this morning revealed a number of text messages made the day before the incident which, he said, showed his client had been provoked.
Mr Chetcuti stands accused of having assaulted and seriously injured Mr Farrugia on March 11, 2010.
Defence lawyer Emanuel Mallia cross examined a number of witnesses including GRTU officials Philip Fenech and Joe Attard, and employee Sylvia Gauci.
During the questioning, Dr Mallia noted that an SMS was sent the day before the alleged case - where Mr Farrugia told Mr Fenech: "We must blacken his name with all ministers and parliamentary secretaries, MPs and authorities so that nobody trusts him and nobody touches him. He is a leper. We must hit him from all angles. No mercy."
Mr Fenech replied: "Just tell him to go or else!! Paul will....we have all endorsement...by all that matter in the council."
Mr Farrugia replied: "But first we must besmirch him. We must not make a hero for Labour out of him. We must first expose him as cheap, a traitor, untrustworthy, a bum, money-stinks guy. Then we dump him as a cant wrapper."
Sandro ChetcutiMr Fenech replied: "Yes, fully agree, will do. Tomorrow I will tell you what I did so far. I will see you after a court case I have."
Mr Farrugia said: "Just phone everyone you know that we caught him red-handed spying for Joseph. Kill. He will die when he is shunned."
Mr Fenech replied: "Yes will do, that is the way".
Later that evening, Mr Fenech told Mr Farrugia: "Excellent, well done, I spoke to Paul (Abela, president of the GRTU) regarding Sandro. Tomorrow we shall talk. He is dangerous, cannot trust him, he has exceeded all limits...! Philip.
On March 14, three days after the incident, Mr Farrugia sent an SMS to Joe Attard saying "Harguh ghal exercise fil bitha illum ghax qal li fic-cella ha jiggennen Ferrari Lamborghini." (He was taken out in the courtyard today because he's going crazy in his cell)
And Mr Attard replied "Ahjar jidra l-ambjent ghax ser ikun parti mill-ghamara." (He had better get used to the environment because he is going to become part of the furniture)
On March 19, Mr Farrugia sent an SMS to Sylvia Gauci, one of the first persons on the scene after the alleged attack. He told her:
"Re Wednesday, remember, when you came in you saw him looking vicious and almost ready to butt my head with his. Your eye message, which I read, was 'watch it' and your eyes showed terror. That is what I will say, and as he hit me you heard him say repeatedly Noqtlok, Noqtlok, that is the truth. I wake up hearing those words in his hoarse voice, loud in my ears. We must all hammer this point."
EVIDENCE RETRACTED
Explaining in court, Ms Gauci said that what she had previously testified was not true. She had not seen Mr Chetcuti hitting Mr Farrugia. All she had seen was Mr Farrugia on the floor, with blood coming out of his eyebrow and Mr Chetcuti standing a couple of metres away.
Immediately following the incident, she said she had a meeting with Mr Fenech, Mr Attard, Paul Abela and some employees where they discussed what they were going to say to the police. It was decided how things should be said.
She said she was later worried that they had discussed what they would say.
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Gaby Spiteri
Nov 13th 2012, 11:13
This is sick...
Instead of the usual stereo-typed criminals, nowadays we get highly ranked persons, who allegedly use their pens as weapons, their employees as soldiers and their money to buy accomplices...
Shame.
Mario Scicluna
Nov 13th 2012, 08:50
@A. Borg
Today, 04:47
Sabiex tkun taf, b'ordni tal-Qorti jew b'mandat bil-miktub , il-'providers' huma obbligati bil-Ligi li jipprezentaw u jaghtu din l-informazzjoni lil-Prosekuzzjoni jew inkella lid-Difiza jekk din tintalab.
P. Ciantar
Nov 13th 2012, 21:41
@ Mario Scicluna imma kien hemm mandat tal qorti ghax imkien ma jissemma. Jekk le il provider ghandu jissemma halli jien l ewwel wiehed naqta il linja mieghu.
BTW imma lil Farrugia min tah xebgha ? Jew hadd ma ta xebgha lil hadd?
Sa issa id difiza kull ma ghamlet idiskreditat parti mill akkuza u l vittma spicca diskreditat bill messaggi bla sens li baghat. Imma l akkuzat ta xebgha jew le ?
Mario Scicluna
Nov 14th 2012, 13:15
@P. Ciantar
Yesterday, 21:41
Miniex ha nidhol fil-merti tal-kaz, imma meta ghandek xhieda ewlenija tghid bil-gurament li halfet falz u spjegat x'geghluwha tghid u taghmel , u gie elevat il-kontenut ta' dawn l-SMS, nahseb illi dawn huma fatturi mportanti u gravi ta' stmerrijja. Il mandat jew ordni tal-qorti , jekk kien hemm, generalment ma tissemmiex, ghax huwa punt ta' procedura.
A. Borg
Nov 13th 2012, 04:47
Nixtieq nistaqssi kif dawn l-SMS's gew ghand l-akkuzat?
Kien hemm leak minn provider?
Min hu l-provider?
Go,Melita,Vodafone,Ping jew redtouch?
Victor Zammit
Nov 13th 2012, 08:58
Good question.
Is data protection, if this includes such SMSs, applicable in criminal proceedings?
Is right to privacy affected?
Next time it could be anybody.
Joe Grech
Nov 13th 2012, 00:33
Terrible...simple terrible.
Those who abused need to be jailed.
Joe Chetcuti
Nov 12th 2012, 20:34
In order to clear any doubts about the authenticity of all the SMS' s quoted in court , I would like to assure all readers that these where extracted during the first few days after the incident in question by the police department who elevated both Sandro's and VF's mobiles on the same day of the incident. Eventually copies of the extracted data was handed to the court by the Police Dept.
j brincat
Nov 12th 2012, 20:00
@Joseph E Briffa
"And V Farrugia was for many years a very staunch Labourite. He was also against VAT and helped Labour to win the 1996 elections"
That was 'once upon a time".
Now we're in Y2012 and three years ago your Vince contested as an MEP BUT on a PN ticket.
How time changes,hux?
(jb).
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 12th 2012, 21:08
j brincat....So! History teaches us that times do change, but people don't. And incidentally I take exception to your reference to your Vince.
Alfred Falzon
Nov 12th 2012, 21:38
@ J. Brincat
So-called defectors/turncoats exist across the political spectrum.
Cyrus Engerer is a case in point and in his speech to Nationalist Councillors on 19 June, just 2 weeks before he joined Labour, he had proclaimed his loyalty to the party - GonziPN - which, according to him, still had the "best leadership team"!
How times change!
Indeed!
Alfred A. Falzon
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 12th 2012, 18:47
What is the connection between GRTU and the government, may I ask? GRTU is a union as far as I know.just like GWU UHM etc. And V Farrugia was for many years a very staunch Labourite. He was also against VAT and helped Labour to win the 1996 elections.
R Axisa
Nov 12th 2012, 19:32
Mela nsejt li V Farrugia hareg ghal MEP taht il-kappa tal-PN? U nsejt ukoll li qal mhux tnejn, mhux tlieta, mhux erbgha, ecc ecc!!! Dan sar hafna wara 1996 - possibbli nsejthom dawn il-fatti recenti??
Robert Sultana
Nov 12th 2012, 19:50
Muddying the waters again, eh, Mr.Joseph E Briffa.......! For 25 yrs I was a bachelor, now I've been married for 17 yrs. Does your argument mean that if I hit my wife now I'll claim I'm innocent as I was a bachelor before ?
Eddy Privitera
Nov 12th 2012, 17:37
Will Vince Farrugia resign from his position of general secretary of the GRTU ? Will gonziPN acept him as a candidate for the MEPs election this time ??
Eddy Privitera
Nov 12th 2012, 16:39
Prosit lil avukat difensur, Emmanuel Mallia, li hareg fil-berrah dawk l-emails !
P. Ciantar
Nov 13th 2012, 21:43
What e mails ? Its sms that you can send thanks to the PN that have changed the tecnology from 2 nd hand telephone lines under labour
John Mifsud
Nov 12th 2012, 16:21
If these allegations are true, and if we are really part of the EU, then we should see some resignations.
There was never a need for a political change such as now. If not, then God help us, especially those in the lower part of the ladder.
David Farrugia
Nov 12th 2012, 16:07
And he is being projected as a PN star candidate. What a sad joke.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 12th 2012, 15:56
Franco debono where are youuuuuuuuu !!!
David Farrugia
Nov 12th 2012, 15:52
The GRTU should be disbanded and these people put on trial themselves for tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.
alfred seguna
Nov 12th 2012, 15:40
I think that for its menbers' sake the GRTU heads should resign EN BLOC.The Prime Minister should investigate if it is true or not that ministers and others are easily reached for such things.Also the police should start an investigation for corruption of witnesses and false testimony.Investigation must also be started to establish whether there was conspiracy to twist the course of justice.MAFIA.
Charles Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 15:34
"We must blacken his name with all ministers and parliamentary secretaries, MPs and authorities so that nobody trusts him and nobody touches him. He is a leper. We must hit him from all angles. No mercy." - Vince Farrugia about Sandro Chetcuti..... WHAT A NICE MAN!
Joe Muscat
Nov 12th 2012, 17:21
And now after hearing all this...try and convince me that Vince Farrugia is the victim.....
T.Felex Busuttil
Nov 12th 2012, 15:32
the GRTU which represent thousands of members should
1. Start an investigation , of how things happened especially the meeting between the staff to fabricate their statement.
2, Ask for the resignation of Vince Farrugia.
and For GONZIPN should ask Vince Farrugia to resign, the same when GONZIPN asked for the resignation of PL mayors.
Alessandra Grima
Nov 12th 2012, 15:27
People learned how to put innocent faces and humble ways of speaking in public.. and in reality be so horrible and disgusting...This is another way of killing! and have to be punished accordingly.. ! Its a shame
A Abela
Nov 12th 2012, 15:26
Yes Dr Gonzi we will choose wisely. Our country needs a change and only the PL can give it.
Joe Muscat
Nov 12th 2012, 15:24
Come on ...Nationalist apologists...No-one trying to brush this under the carpet? As if it means nothing...And his son's case get's bumped from 33 to one of the first cases to be heard last week and gets aquitted on a technicality....maltese mafia....Ruthless.....GRTU head that makes his staff lie....following GonzI's Brazil farce..
L-istess klikka tal-ftit..... GAME OVER
Michael Magri
Nov 12th 2012, 15:18
OMG.. Unbeleival.. Who does Mr VF realy think he is..!!! Xi Al Capone jew...!!!
E Bonnici
Nov 12th 2012, 15:16
Reading the above is sickening especially when this same person portrayed himself as an innocent victim.
GL Calleja
Nov 12th 2012, 15:03
Dirty politics at their best. Franco Debono is right. We need a huge change. The only people that do not agree with that is politicians themselves.
R. Balzan
Nov 12th 2012, 15:22
Correction Mr Calleja: The only people that do not agree with change are the politicians who have had it so good these past 25 years.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 12th 2012, 15:01
How come the Executive Council of the GRTU has not called for Farrugia's resignation yet?
Or are they endorsing this kind of behavior?
R. Balzan
Nov 12th 2012, 15:23
Unfortunately it's not just Farrugia as there are other council members implicated in this shenanigan.
Kevin Marks
Nov 12th 2012, 14:45
Kif ma jisthux jidhru quddiem in nies specjalment il protagonist???.....jigifieri dawn jahsbu li b daqshekk ghamlu jew kienu se jaghmlu hafna gid ghal Dr Gonzi u ghal PN? l Importanti li naghmlu l maratoni biex nigbru ghal fqar
alfred seguna
Nov 12th 2012, 14:45
This is incredible.Where any of the ministers really informed to blacken this man's name.Is this the way to run the country.I feel that the prime minister should investigate this issue.How many more of such people are there who can destroy others this way.I think that the EU should investigate the level of corruption in Malta to save guard the common honest citizen.
R. Balzan
Nov 12th 2012, 14:42
As a member of the GRTU I expect Vincent Farrugia as well as other GRTU committee members implicated in this shameful episode, to immediately resign from their posts. Failure to do this, I urge all fellow GRTU members to send back their membership cards. We do not need such shameless persons to represent us.
Matthew Pace
Nov 12th 2012, 15:25
Represent us are you serious, how could you represent us with authorities when The GRTU CEO exposes himself as a political candidate, shameful that retailers have somebody so dirty to represent us
Joseph Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 14:42
Prosit Ms Gauci - you did a great job in saying the truth! Id-dnub qatt ma jorqod!!
Franco Attard Trevisan
Nov 12th 2012, 14:40
What a mess!!!!!!
C Falzon
Nov 12th 2012, 14:39
U dan iridni nivvota ghal PN??? U ma tarax!!!!!
Ms Maria Vella
Nov 12th 2012, 15:52
Lame excuse not to vote for a party, just say you don't support them fullstop
W Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 18:57
Maria
Obviously you don't have very high standards or couldn't care less about the candidates the party chooses as long as you tick blue. That's just being irresponsible with your vote! Shame!
John Sultana
Nov 12th 2012, 14:33
After this SMS exchange was revealed both Vince and Philip should resign from their posts. Since sms each carry the sender/reciever digital id + timestamp, there is little or no chance that these were in anyway falsified.
Christopher Scerri
Nov 12th 2012, 14:28
Attention Everyone.....This is how the PN and GonziPn administrations work....Beaware.....No wonder too many cases of this sort happened recently, just look at John Dalli, JPO & Franco Debono...I believe they were all used and thromn....and then...maybe a frame up?? WHO KNOWS!!
George Cremona
Nov 12th 2012, 14:28
Harget storja wahda minn mijiet ta kif qed jitmexxa il-pajjiz.
David Rizzo
Nov 12th 2012, 14:28
It's unacceptable that such things are still happening in our country!!! We're leaving in the middle ages? Truth will prevail!
John Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 14:21
Is this the way the GRTU is being run ? From what surfaced I believe all these people should be forced to resign and the police Starts proceedings against them for giving false information. What Sandro can do I am sure he knows the way. In this case the police have a finger also
E. Azzopardi
Nov 12th 2012, 14:18
And what is the penalty for lying under oath? Or it just goes away?
Austin grech
Nov 12th 2012, 14:12
and prime minister Gonzi told us to vote carefully. Not to vote blindly ? This was a PN candidate for europe. I pity the few nationalist left that aren't (tal klikka) who have to put up with this.
pat muscat
Nov 12th 2012, 14:12
Oh my oh my; these people have top jobs and positions of trust? They should resign . Morna l-bhar!
Ethelbert Schembri
Nov 12th 2012, 14:06
Is this man an example of the candidates the PN are giving the electorate to choose from ?? He seems to have learnt the dirty tactics very well.
A Abela
Nov 12th 2012, 14:06
Shame shame. Tal misthija!
Jay Oatmon
Nov 12th 2012, 14:05
Is there no chance of anyone here in politics demonstrating personal integrity and being honest? To me it's just 'yes men', knives in the back, dog eat dog etc - It seems that Dr DeBono was right and politics in Malta is a can of worms.
David Rizzo
Nov 12th 2012, 14:01
It's unacceptable that such things are still happening in our country! Are we still living in the middle ages?!!! True will prevail.
W Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 13:56
And this guy is on the PN ticket... you must be joking!
marcus bonello
Nov 12th 2012, 13:55
Wow, looks like scenes from the Inquisition !!!!!
Could be because, I am ,at the time reading, The Scimitar and the Sword .
This is truly deplorable if all is true !!! Shame
J Degabriele
Nov 12th 2012, 13:48
How dirty can one get?
KARL ABELA
Nov 12th 2012, 13:44
VINCE FARRUGIA you are a disgrace to our society...I don't believe that you were on board the PN's ticket for the MEP's election. Your best way out of this is LI TISPARIXI darba ghal dejjem. Ctrl-Alt-Delete..Shame on you
jm busuttil
Nov 12th 2012, 13:36
Without going into the merits of the case, we might still be hearing what SMS's were sent from Sandro's mobile to Josephh Muscat. Best not judge at this stage
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 15:55
And I belive that there are more interesting SMSs that will be published on the eve of the general election that will torpedoe any chance of GonziPn winning the next election. The best is always saved for the last!
A Cachia
Nov 12th 2012, 13:35
I wonder what VInce Farrugia will reply to this....
j brincat
Nov 12th 2012, 13:29
And as I ask always:
Who will today tender his resignation?
Or shall they continue to go their own way, as always happens here, as if nothing has happened?
Quo vadis morality in Malta?
(jb)
A. Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 13:27
Min ha jaghmel tajjeb kemm Sandro dam il-habs?
Min se jaghmel tajjeb li dan il-bniedem kellu futur li ma baqax?
Min se jaghmel tajjeb ghal dak li ga sofra s'issa?
A Vella
Nov 12th 2012, 13:25
Sure, let us all make aggressor the victim! Here we have a clear vision of what is to come...good luck all.
anthony brincat
Nov 12th 2012, 13:20
is this man still on gonzipn sinking ship shameon you allof you everybodyis fed up of you gonzipn
Joseph Stafrace
Nov 12th 2012, 13:20
Not one, not two, not three but the four of them should resign immediately! Their members should call for an urgent meeting to start afresh.
john muscat
Nov 12th 2012, 13:16
So Ms. Gauci lied under oath, and it seems that everything was premeditated. Mr. Farrugia should hide.
Joseph Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 13:14
This is why GonziPN must go. Not because of Dr Gonzi himself, but to get rid of all these people in the process. This article should make anyone sick.
Jesmond Chetcuti
Nov 12th 2012, 13:09
Heads need to roll after this....not only Sandro should be aquitted but he should sue all these people...
S. Bonello
Nov 12th 2012, 13:08
Ermmmm ser jirrenzjaw en-blokk dawn? Ma jisthu min xejn. M'hawn hadd li jwarrabhom? Imma x'pajjiz dan ?
Mickey Mouse KING hdejn dal pajjiz.
j brincat
Nov 12th 2012, 13:00
Is this tantamount to a frame up?
Certainly not a glorious day for GRTU!
(jb)
George Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 12:58
these are the people that take decisions for Malta or occupy important positions.
What has this country turned into??
iftah ghajnejk poplu Malti !
Joseph Fava
Nov 12th 2012, 12:58
What a drama is unwrapping itself before the general public ! It is a travesty of justice and a lurid frame-up by any other name. It is evident that the perpetrators of this frame-up must be brought to justice and that mafia style collusion between the perpetrators and the authorities be exposed. The general public expects heads to roll in the Police Dept and at the AG office. Shame.
T.Felex Busuttil
Nov 12th 2012, 12:56
Is this guy SOON going to be our MEP? shame on us all
fred sammut
Nov 12th 2012, 12:56
Itlob skuza Vince u sparixxi........
Victor Laiviera
Nov 12th 2012, 12:53
THIS is the man the PN wanted to foist on us as an MEP?
Mind-boggling!
Marija Falzon
Nov 12th 2012, 12:33
Do these guys at least have the decency to resign? The grtu members should force them to do so. Disgusting. The PN shoud also condem them especially Farrugia who was on their ticket.
Disgusting
william cauchi
Nov 12th 2012, 12:32
What does the law say and if it is a criminal act for someone to try to manipulate what a witness testifies in court?
No idea, but glad to hear what the legal experts say.
One thing stands out for sure in all this. Privacy in SMS messages doesn't exist.
Malcolm Mifsud
Nov 12th 2012, 12:32
Gurdien ikbar minn dawk li int stess ghajjart grieden. Imissek tisthi, int u l-komplici tieghek kollha.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 12th 2012, 12:27
WOW! WOW! WOW! Any more mud???
Jay Oatmon
Nov 12th 2012, 12:25
Dirty politics and evil men - what sort of leadership is this?
To me it seems to be just like the Mafia here in Malta?
Lawrence Fenech
Nov 12th 2012, 12:24
Prosit. U dan director general u irid johrog ghal elezzjoni meta nofs il-membri kollha qiegheda in-naha l'ohra.
Wenzu Cole
Nov 12th 2012, 12:23
This is an all time low for Vince
David Caruana
Nov 12th 2012, 12:20
Id-dnub qatt ma jmut
Eve Axiaq
Nov 12th 2012, 12:13
Xi hmieg! Jekk hu veru Vince Farrugia ghandu jmur jinheba f'kantina.
victor bonello
Nov 12th 2012, 12:12
Shameful to say the least. If this is true Vince Farrugia should be interdicted. So Shallow!!
Victor Laiviera
Nov 12th 2012, 12:07
THIS is the man the PN wanted to foist on us as an MEP?
Mind-boggling!
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