Rita Schembri defamation case: Arguments on freezing of assets
Rita Schembri
A magistrate said today that he would decide at a later stage whether to order the freezing of the assets of Joe Borg , who is pleading not guilty to attempting to blackmail Rita Schembri, the head of the government’s internal audit bureau (IAID).
The request was made by the Attorney General.
Mr Borg is accused of having attempted to blackmail Ms Schembri, through an e-mail where he allegedly accused her of breaching a lease agreement.
Ms Schembri is at the centre of an investigation which she herself requested over allegations that she breached a code of ethics.
Magistrate Anthony Vella said he could not understand why the request for the freezing of assets was being made in a case over defamation.
Defence lawyer Daniel Buttigieg agreed that it was not right for his client to have his assets frozen over this case. He said his client was a businessman who always obeyed the law and this was not a case of money laundering.
Magistrate Anthony Vella deferred the case and said he would give a decision on whether or not the accused’s assets should be frozen at a later date.
Inspector Chris Pullicino told the court he had another witness to testify before he would be able to close his case.
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Tony Borg Borg
Jan 17th, 15:23
Meta taqra dawn il-kummenti u ohrajn tasal biex tghid kullhadd sar jifhem iktar mill-AG, saru jifhmu izjed mill-Inginiera esperti fuq sigurta' ghall-Power Station. Fuq kollox.
Edward Mallia
Jan 17th, 17:52
Dear Tony Borg Borg,
When "the power station security expert" shows that he does not know that natural gas is lighter than air an will therefore disperse in an upward direction rather than horizontally, any fifth former can claim to be an expert.
Edward Mallia
Jan 17th, 14:37
But the AG is the Government's chief law officer, so he has every right to try and hammer the "whistleblower". But even the Magistrate sounded a little puzzled by the AG's request.
He may have recollected the time, when a Labour govt. tried to bar him from joining the UoM Law Course on the basis of an as yet un-enacted law! The govt. case was thrown out of court by the judge in about 15 mins.
Joe Busuttil
Jan 17th, 13:54
Worse than Mickey Mouse country. These things drive people to desperate actions (it drove the French to a great revolution a couple oh hundred years ahead of us.)
Paul Caruana
Jan 17th, 13:52
So we speak of the need to afford protection to whistleblowers, while in practice we harass them for doing so, making sure that in the future no one would dare speak up ever again!
Alfred Falzon
Jan 17th, 13:29
What a strong message to whistleblowers? Do we really want to see an end to corrupt practices?
pat muscat
Jan 17th, 13:23
Unbelievable! Its no wonder that the whistle blowers act was never legislated. Mela 'Ewropej' fejn jaqblilna biss!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jan 17th, 12:55
"Magistrate Anthony Vella said he could not understand why the request for the freezing of assets was being made in a case over defamation".
Fully in agreement with the magistrate on this one. The AG's request is truly baffling!
PHILIP RIZZO
Jan 17th, 12:53
STRAIGHT TALK: this Government asks that a whistleblower's assets be frozen whilst the same PN government merely gives the involved OPM-PS vacation leave to have time 'to defend herself' from my accusations.
READERS please see Talking Point by Prof. K. Aquilina on today's Times: " The laws of the land are to apply equally to all"..."any other is the law of the jungle". Malta needs a change!
matthew tanti
Jan 17th, 13:36
what exactly did he whistle blow? as far as i know this is a private matter regarding the lease of premises, there is no abuse of power involved?
R. Cilia
Jan 17th, 15:09
First the AG accused Mr.Borg with blackmail and now he is requesting the freezing of Mr.Borg assets! My,my! It's blood they are after.
Joseph M. Saliba
Jan 17th, 16:02
I am in full agreement. This is an Animal Farm Country.
Carl Carabott
Jan 17th, 12:52
the law is there for every one, one should be held accountabile for such tinghs!
Jay Oatmon
Jan 17th, 12:47
Obviously in Malta everyone is not treated equally under the law (why am I not surprised?).
Politicians, judges and magistrates and other influential people seem to get special treatment and privileges.
D Borg
Jan 17th, 12:42
Does Dr. Peter Grech and/or John Rizzo, know what is happening in their respective offices?
We speak about the abuses that Wardens are infamous for, but here we have much worse!
What is really going on?
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Jan 17th, 12:35
Certain abusive requests by not always the best of legal minds have to be curtailed. It does not conclude that because one is employed at the AG, any request can be made because one might feel secure in anonymity under the Prefiss AG.............THANK GOD WE HAVE SOME VERY STRONG ELEMENTS IN OUR ADJUDICANTS. DAMAGES should be paid by those who abuse their position, apart from disembowelling.
Vincent Bezzina
Jan 17th, 13:18
Dr Bezzina
Japanese sense of shame or guilt does not exist in Malta anymore. So i think that the chance of seeing on official commit the hara-kiri is very unlikely. I suppose once you get a situation where everyone knows or think everyone else is also a villain, then there is no sense of shame. There is also a large body of people who own their careers to their political alligiance and not skills
matthew tanti
Jan 17th, 13:36
disembowelling?
Edward Mallia
Jan 17th, 13:57
Dear Emmy,
The proper legal term for "disembowelling" when and where it was in fashion, was "hanged, drawn and quartered". The act of d. was in the "drawn", at which point the intestines were pulled out using a windlass.
By the way, I hope you are never made AG.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 17th, 12:35
This woman is being defended heart and soul by the PN in government. I have a feeling that there is so much we do not know. This is a most unusual step for the AG - even the Magistrate is mystified. I think the AG should explain why he did this. I can now understand why Gonzi was reluctant to enact the Whistleblower Act - it gives Gonzi the opportunity to hit back at whistleblowers.
B Attard
Jan 17th, 13:20
Exactly my thoughts. Seems that this man needs severe punishment in the eyes of a few. What's the reason after all this? Something stinks.
Joseph Borg
Jan 17th, 12:24
Freezing of assets for a defamation case? This is new! What's next, deportation?!
B Attard
Jan 17th, 13:18
Or exile. Ma nafx fejn wasalna.
R Mallia
Jan 17th, 12:22
Itfahom taht il-maduma l ahjar. How are you suppose to live if you have your assets frozen Mr.AG?
Please choose the reason of your report below: