Dalligate: Silvio Zammit arraigned, remanded in custody
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas, Wessel de Cock
Former Sliema deputy mayor Silvio Zammit was remanded in custody today after being taken to court and accused of bribery, trading in influence and relapsing. He pleaded not guilty.
The charges are related to the snus case which led to the resignation of EU Commissioner John Dalli.
Mr Dalli was forced to resign as European Health Commissioner in October when an OLAF investigation concluded there was “unambiguous circumstantial evidence” showing he knew that Mr Zammit, his former canvasser requested a large sum money from a Swedish tobacco company to lift an EU ban on snus – a smokeless form of tobacco which can only be sold in Sweden.
The agency’s director general, Giovanni Kessler, had said there was no conclusive evidence showing Mr Dalli was directly involved in anything illegal, but the former Commissioner was forced to resign by European Commission President Manuel Barroso because his position was deemed untenable in light of the findings.
The prosecution, led by Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar and inspector Angelo Gafa included lawyers from the Attorney General's office Lara Lanfranco and Philip Galea Farrugia.
Inspector Gafa objected to bail saying that a witness in the case, Gayle Kimberly, had been approached about what to say during the investigation and because of this, Mr Zammit should be remanded in custody.
Defence counsel Chris Busietta and Melvin Mifsud argued that bail should not be denied because evidence could, in future, be tampered with, unless this fear was real.
Magistrate Miriam Hayman asked for the lawyers and the prosecution to approach the bench.
When they returned to their places the magistrate said bail was being denied until the important witnesses were heard.
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Ronnie Callus
Dec 11th 2012, 20:40
Tal-misthija li barra li gie mhammeg isem John Dalli kummissarju fl-unjoni Ewropeja fejn anke gie mgieghel jirrizenja, gie mhammeg isem Malta.Dan ghandu jigi ikkunsidrat ukoll f'dan il-kaz. Sew jghidu li xoghol hotba jghamel u mhux flus. Hasra li nies f'puzzizjonijiet importanti jiccappsu ma'dawn l-affarijiet.Spiccaw il-valuri ghal certu nies.
John Cassar
Dec 11th 2012, 19:22
Iz-zejt fl-ahhar tiela fil-wicc. Jaghmlu x'jaghmlu dalwaqt i kunu nafu minn kienil-master mind wara dan il-kaz.
SZ sab kappel li ma setax jehles minnu.
micheal stockdale
Dec 11th 2012, 16:57
I take it Inspector Gafa is the one prosecuting and doing all the work and the commissioner and his deputyy are just there to see what is said in court
Lawrence Attard
Dec 11th 2012, 15:19
Kemm hi l multa talli thammeg bara? J'Alla igiebuh fuq hekk ukoll, iva probabli jghid li mhux hati (sic) apparti l evidenza konkreta.
j brincat
Dec 11th 2012, 14:52
Seems that the Sliema Local Council cannot get away from the limelight!!!!
Must be the most popular council on the Island.
(jb)
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 11th 2012, 15:22
Yes dear j.brincat. The Dalli that was continually on Super 1 attacking the PM had some really good friends it seems. The same Dalli that Joseph cited in calling the PM hard-headed because he wouldn't listen to what Dalli was proposing to your Joseph regarding the power station. No wonder now.
Michael Seychell
Dec 11th 2012, 18:38
j.brincat - seems you missed to note the ex before the words deputy mayor!
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
R. Balzan
Dec 11th 2012, 14:52
And yet another picture to hang in the PN's notorious Hall of Fame at Pieta'. What a shameful political party!
Aaron Vella
Dec 11th 2012, 17:21
Iva, il-Partit Nazzjonalista jilqaghhom fil-partit meta jkunu indaf. Jithammgu, il-PN ikeccihom u jilqaghhom il-LP. Dak huwa fatt, li jibqa mnizzel mal-isem tal-Partit Laburista.
Edward Mallia
Dec 11th 2012, 19:07
Meta jkunu ndaf?
Zammit gie akkusat li hu recidiv aparti minn hwejjeg ohrajn. Mela ma kienx nadif, kellu police record li il-PN kien jaf bih. Barra minn hekk Zammit ma nafx li hadu il-LP.
Paul Azzopardi
Dec 11th 2012, 14:36
It was very obvious that there was more to this, and it wasnt as cut and dry as Barroso want to make it seem. Eventually we are going to see how the ''fall guy'' got mixed up in all this and all he was is a scapegoat. I could be wrong but for some reason or other Gatt doesnt seem like the scheming type..I could be proved wrong...
twanny borg
Dec 11th 2012, 14:34
Minghajr ma nirreferi specifikament ghal dan il-kaz. Ghaliex ix-xhieda importanti ma jinstemux fl-istess gurnata milli persuna jintbaght il-habs jistenna bi spiza ghal poplu?
Stephen Borg
Dec 11th 2012, 14:33
Should he be fined for throwing the cigarette on the floor? :)
Kenneth Williams
Dec 11th 2012, 14:29
U issa x jigri min John Dalli. Nahseb li din kienet falza stikka ohra ta GONZIPN.
Missieri taf x kien jghid....li min jobzoq fis sema jigi f wiccu !!!
pat muscat
Dec 11th 2012, 14:12
Wara is-sindku Nazzjonalista ta tas-Sliema issa imiss Nazzjonalist minn tas-Sliema ukoll, li qed jigi akkuzat li ipprova jibbrajbja!
Mr Joe Micallef
Dec 11th 2012, 14:38
Tighd lil dan ser tiehdu fuq it television bhal bl'eks sindku li issa insejtu.
One huge difference between PN and PL. Under the first alleged corruption is prosecuted irrespectively of the person involved whilst under the PL it is institutionalised. Pure fact
P Bonnici
Dec 11th 2012, 14:06
Silvio Zammit is seen smoking and throwing the cigarette on the floor just before he gets into the car.
Will he also be charged for littering?
Why was an unmarked police car used?
Franco Farrugia
Dec 11th 2012, 13:58
Some people are going to get to know what an animal feels like, in a cage. A wild animal!
Francis Bonello
Dec 11th 2012, 14:06
Well said, Mr. Farrugia!!
m. borg (slm)
Dec 11th 2012, 13:50
Maybe now we would see Barroso giving evidence and the whole truth comes out, seeing that the commission is refusing to answer a lot of valid question in the EU parliament.
Charles Micallef
Dec 11th 2012, 13:44
More sickening sleeze....... the nation had more than they can cope with!
J Micallef
Dec 11th 2012, 14:14
I think I agree there.
C Busuttil
Dec 11th 2012, 13:36
eks vici sindku nazzjonalista ta' tas-Sliema !!!!!
Adrian P. Cassar
Dec 11th 2012, 14:15
No, all corrupt nationalists are now labelled labourites!
J Martinelli
Dec 11th 2012, 14:17
Allura?
L-importanti hu li ilu 'Ex' minn mindu kien hemm xamma ta attivitajiet irregolari.
Il-PN ma jilghabx b'dawn l-affarijiet u jiehu passi immedjati.
Kazi ta kunsillieri w sindki Laburisti li jiksru r-regolamenti jibqghu fi hdan il-Partit Laburista w aktar minn hekk, il-Partit jiddefendihom! Hu mill-Mosta....
C Busuttil
Dec 11th 2012, 14:27
Sur Martinelli
jekk ma tafx dan kien lis-star candidate fuq tas-Sliema u skont il-magna tal-partit kellu jkun sindku imma b'xorti tajba n-nies ta' Tas-Sliema hasbuha differenti mill-partit ghax kieku kien ikollhom it-tieni sindku f'sentejn jirrezenja fuq korruzzjoni. Tghidx kemm kien hada bil-kbira li ma lahaqx. Minbarra dan kien ufficjal gholi fis-segretarjat ta' bosta ministri
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Dec 11th 2012, 14:33
Hekk hu C Busuttil. Il-Partit Nazzjonalista , il-hazin jarmih.
U haddiehor ilaqqtu ghax ma jitghallem QATT.
kelly agius
Dec 11th 2012, 14:48
@ j martinelli
vera andek alxiex tghid meta austin gatt gab servizz zgugat u baqa MP f pajjizi ohra ma nofs dubju li xi haga tkun sejra hazin il gvern iwaqqa u jtella l xi hadd iehor .. in nazzjonalisti ghejjew jaqbzu al xulxin u dejjem listess klikka. come on..
C Busuttil
Dec 11th 2012, 14:58
@Rudy Mcbeal
x'jarmih l-angli!!! int f'liema dinja tghix !!!! dak kien il-kandidat Stilla li kellu warajh il-magna tal-partit biex jilhaq sindku imma b'xorti tajba n-nies hasbuha differenti mill-magna tal-partit. Apparti li kien ghal bosta snin ufficjal gholi ta' bosta ministri. Dak wiehed mill-klikka imma tant kibret rasu li dejjem riedt aktar u aktar u ara fix spicca
Charles Grixti
Dec 11th 2012, 13:35
He is what is referred to as the 'fall guy'.
Peter Murray
Dec 11th 2012, 13:24
So if he is arrested on these grounds then Dalli ,by alleged association with the said offences and charges ,should also be arrested.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 11th 2012, 13:40
your 1 + 1 doesn't add up my friend... Do you know what evidence has been presented?? Even OLAF confirmed Dalli wasn't the mind behind all this (leaving Silvio Zammit as the mind). Also he was remanded in custody because he already tried to approach a main witness.
George Lewis
Dec 11th 2012, 14:04
very clever of you.You should be sitting on the bar.So if someone uses your name without your even knowing it,you should be deemed as guilty.
Edgar Gatt
Dec 11th 2012, 14:08
As the saying goes. Slowly, slowly you catch a monkey. Have patience man. This is not the end of the story.
Adrian P. Cassar
Dec 11th 2012, 14:20
Franco, OLAF never said that Dalli was not behind it. They said they had no evidence.
Charles Grixti
Dec 11th 2012, 14:49
@Franco Attard Trevisan
You need to be more cynical my friend. Politics is a very dirty business. The ones on the lower tiers always take the fall. It is part of the deal.
Peter Murray
Dec 11th 2012, 17:17
FAO GEORGE LEWIS ,
I normally sit behind a bar -and thats why I could never be a lawyer as I could never pass a bar.Judging by your comments you have also spent too much time at the bar -a number of them it would appear!
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 11th 2012, 17:46
@ Adrian P Cassar
Yes Kessner declared publicly that no evidence was found to indicate that Dalli was the 'master mind' but accused him of being aware of Zammit's actions and failed to report it.
@ Charles Grixti
I am cynical enough.. I just don't like to assume and speculate.. And I agree 100% about the filth in politics.
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 11th 2012, 13:23
John Dalli ragel ta' l'affari tieghu. Is-zejt ghad irid jitla' fil-wicc u Barroso irid jghati spejgazzjoni ghala hada kontra John Dalli u halla kollox mohbi.
Htija ukoll ta' Castilja li hadd ma qabez ghalieh anzi ha daqqa l'isfel minn disversi nies tal-GonziPN. Isthu.
Gorg Sciberras
Dec 11th 2012, 13:12
Does the fact that Dalli was not arraigned at the same time mean that he will not be arraigned at all?
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 11th 2012, 12:54
Il-garra gejja u sejra fl-ahhar tinkiser. Min huwa hati ha jhallas ta ghemilu hu min huwa.
A.P.Naudi
J Tabone
Dec 11th 2012, 13:20
Hekk ghandu jkun, Sur Naudi!
m. borg (slm)
Dec 11th 2012, 13:54
Ezatt sur Naudi, imma mhux sew tikkundanna bniedem fuq evidenza superficjali.
Jien zgur maghandi l-ebda simpatija lejn Dalli jew Zammit ,imma bhala citadin ta' Malta li giet imkasbra b'dan il-kaz inrid nara gustizzja issir fuq evidenza cara u kif ghidt int min hu hati ihallas ta' ghemilu.
Joseph N. Attard
Dec 11th 2012, 13:57
@ Anthony Paul Naudi: Agreed. I hope that you also agree that we go back to let's say 1981.
Please choose the reason of your report below: