Abela's decision 'morally, ethically and politically wrong' - Beppe Fenech Adami
Abela's decision 'morally, ethically and politically wrong'. Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Toni Abela’s decision not to report a case of drug trafficking was morally, ethically and politically wrong, Home Affairs parliamentary assistant Beppe Fenech Adami said.
Addressing a news conference on two recordings featuring PL deputy leader Toni Abela, Dr Fenech Adami said this was not a matter of whether or not Dr Abela had acted legally or illegally but a matter of ethics.
PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier commented extensively on the language used in the clips, which were shown during the conference, and said that the second was more shocking than the first.
This was because whereas in the first recording, Dr Abela admitted he had interfered by asking a Labourite policeman not to proceed with investigations, in the second he stifled an investigation by not reporting a serious crime.
He said that this recording also showed an element of two weights and two measures.
For while PL leader Joseph Muscat was standing by Dr Abela, which was scandalous, in the case of former deputy leader Anglu Farrugia he had asked him to resign on the strength of a comment.
He noted that in two separate television programmes deputy leader Louis Grech and candidate Manwel Mallia said they would have acted differently to Dr Abela.
Dr Borg Olivier said that this case was very different to that of Minister Austin Gatt, who had only been mentioned in an e-mail. Dr Abela, on the other hand, was heard admitting to unethical decisions.
Dr Fenech Adami insisted that everybody was duty bound to report drug trafficking, a crime that could take the maximum punishment allowed by Maltese law, which was life imprisonment.
Dr Abela, he said, had acted in the interest of his party rather than in the interest of society.
He made reference to and quoted extensively from an interview with Dr Abela in The Times today and said that Dr Abela made things worse, such as when he gave the impression that he did the right thing by not reporting.
The majority of the Maltese, Dr Fenech Adami said, condemned those who closed their eyes to drug trafficking.
He said that it was now in the public interest for Dr Abela to disclose which was the Labour Party club that was being mentioned in the recordings and to say whether this was in the vicinity of a school since this would imply further criminal implications.
Dr Fenech Adami said that the reason the police could not take action was because there was no evidence and this was because Dr Abela had not reported the crime.
Asked about the Labour leader’s claim that the PN had opted to hold the recording for two years, Dr Fenech Adami said it was the court, and not the PN, that had brought up the recordings.
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Joe Grech
Feb 16th, 23:32
Hopefully Beppe Fenech Adami will also inform people what HE makes of the oil procurement scandal. There is the distinct probability that, for far too long, the Maltese had to pay through the nose for oil purchases that smacked of corruption. Oil was preferred to gas because it suited some.
How does that reflect on the efficiency and uprighness of the people who were governing the country?
charles flask
Feb 16th, 20:40
It has been said that Dr Gonzi knew about this recording and its content for two years. What is being said from PN against Dr Toni Abela would, therefore, be applicable to Dr Gonzi! Dear PN reps, we do not care about such recordings. Where is the beef? Why all those hardships in the last few years? This is what we want to know.
M. Grech
Feb 16th, 20:32
The best to do with your vote is to vote PL since GonziPN splits hair on Toni Abela and wants us to forget about such a big Oil Scandal and who is involved.
Paul Caruana
Feb 16th, 18:21
......said the pot to the kettle!
Alfred Vassallo
Feb 16th, 18:17
The more you try to throw dirt to put the LP in bad light, the more you strengthen the LP, people are fed up with your ways because your party has long ago lost all sense of credibility.
j brincat
Feb 16th, 18:10
@Denis Pace
"Spin??
It was the Law Courts...
Can't you see black from white...or is it all red or blue????""
It is Simon who differentiates between a Nationalist or Labour face.
Could it be cause they are have a different colour?
jb
j brincat
Feb 16th, 18:09
@Denis Pace
"Tipprova kemm tipprova tiggustifika hnizrija bhal din, ma jirnexxielekx.
Il-buzzieqa qaddisa li qed tonfhu infaqghet f'wicckom"
Which balloon are you referring to?
The one that AG or Aust are holding?
jb
.
j brincat
Feb 16th, 18:07
@Angelo Vassallo
"Il-pulizija LEJBURISTA li mar ifittex toni abela għandu jirrispondi ghan-nuqqas tiegħu"
And what should AG or Aust do, hide Malta?
jb
j brincat
Feb 16th, 17:41
@ M Grima
"By the way you cannot inherit an account but only the balance once the heir is established. Pawlu, we are not idiots!!!!"
Have you forgotten the famous 2008 slogan 'Flimkien KOLLOX possibli'
Flimkien obviously is meant to be the clique or oligarchy as Franco put it!
jb
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 17:58
Tipprova kemm tipprova tiggustifika hnizrija bhal din, ma jirnexxielekx.
Il-buzzieqa qaddisa li qed tonfhu infaqghet f'wicckom.
Michael Magri
Feb 16th, 17:38
GonziPN et all.. Rest ASSURED that this kind of political filthy spin of your`s is NOT getting you anywhere...!
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 17:59
Spin??
It was the Law Courts...
Can't you see black from white...or is it all red or blue????
Michael Magri
Feb 16th, 18:54
Denis. The Police Commissioner declared that that `case` is NO CASE on Dr Abela at all..
M Grima
Feb 16th, 17:33
"Dr Borg Olivier said that this case was very different to that of Minister Austin Gatt, who had only been mentioned in an e-mail. Dr Abela, on the other hand, was heard admitting to unethical decisions"
And what about Dr. Gatt's omission to mention his Swiss bank account ? By the way you cannot inherit an account but only the balance once the heir is established. Pawlu, we are not idiots!!!!
George Cassar
Feb 16th, 17:30
Dr.Fenech Adami, stop trying to inflate this balloon. Someone else has already burst it. Just thought you should know, that's all
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 18:00
It has definitely burst...in the face of honesty and transparency.
What I'm scared of is that this is just a trailer of what is yet to come.
M Grima
Feb 16th, 17:28
These stories about Dr. Abela or rather their timing is a glaring example of how a Machiavelli works. The PN have uncovered these petty stories on the eve of the election, but their excuse is that these surfaced up during a court case. Now that is a coincidence, a case which had its origin 28 months ago!!!
The people are asking why now? Is it a case of alienation? Most probably if it smells PN.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Feb 16th, 17:27
Can any lawyer explain what action the police could take when informed merely through hearsay and when tangible evidence is non-existent? No conviction would be possible in a court of law. Beppe Fenech Adami knows this, even if criminal law is not his speciality. So, the only purpose to his 'shock horror' acting is merely to impress his party diehards. Nobody else is likely to be impressed.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 16th, 17:22
Beppe ghal mument hsibtek qed tirriferi ghal AustAG tal-kontijiet fl' is-Svizzera. Ghat tender tal-BWSC, u ghal kuntratt tal-Fairmount.
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 18:01
Id-differenza hija li dawk li semmejt..m'hemmx provi...
Il-Kaz ta Toni Abela huwa xempju ta arroganza u dizonesta!
Aristide Galea
Feb 17th, 18:53
Sur Pace , jekk skont int ma hemmx provi , tista tgħidli għalfejn ingħatat il-proklama ? Iz-zmien għad jagħatina parir , dejjem jekk ma sarx xi tip ta' manuvrar biex jinħbew xi nies prominenti li jistgħu jkunu involuti fil-kas .
Peter Simpson
Feb 16th, 17:19
May I ask Dr Fenech Aadmi who gave you the tape about Dr Abela? Is he the guy whom Dr Abela chucked out because of drug abuse? If the ansewr is yes: you are ethically morally and politically not credible
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 18:01
The law courts.......
Aristide Galea
Feb 18th, 09:57
Sur Pace , dak li qed tgħid int ma jista jkun qatt għax ebda materjal jew oġġett li jiġi pprezentat fli-qorti ma jista jingħata lill-terzi persuni . Jiġi rrapurtat dak li jingħad fil-qorti iva , izda dak li jingħad mhux bil-fors li jkun veru . Mela dak li għidt int hu gidba wkoll .
M Grima
Feb 16th, 17:18
"He said that it was now in the public interest for Dr Abela to disclose which was the Labour Party club that was being mentioned in the recordings"
May I ask Beppe if the Enemlata Oilgate scandal is less important than the petty stories which his PN is digging up? And while he is thinking how to reply he should be aware that people living in glasshouses should not throw stones!!!
joseph azzopardi
Feb 16th, 17:09
Beppe... This is all pure waist of time. More sheep will be lost
Adrian Dalton
Feb 16th, 17:06
Dear Dr. Beppe Fenech Adami, you are a lawyer and it is you who is acting 'morally, ethically and politically wrong' and this is because you know that the Police still could do nothing even if Dr. Abela reported the case to the them. Dr. Abela could not prove anything to the Police because he was not even present when this incident happened and he could not produce any concrete evidence to them.
j brincat
Feb 16th, 17:01
A mountain out of a mole hill!
Imma dak li qed jeghreq jaqbad ma' kull tentufa!
And the PN is sinking and fast!
jb
j brincat
Feb 16th, 16:59
When PBO sent the famous (or is it infamous) email to the wrong Jason, were its contents "morally, ethically and politically wrong' as Beppe is saying?
jb
j brincat
Feb 16th, 16:57
Please stop it lest we all burst in tears!
jb
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 21:15
We will all burst in tears when we wake up to "Bongu Malta Socjalista" !
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Feb 16th, 16:40
Without any doubt, concidering what happened during the last 5 years, it is GonziPN which is 'morally, ethically and politically wrong' and this will be confirmed by the vast majority of the people after the coming election.
A Tonna
Feb 16th, 16:39
Dr Fenech Adami, you are the last person who should comment on morals, ethics and political fair play. Maybe we should have a comment from you on Oilpurchasinggate. Now go into the opposition in March and learn from there how to be a pro.
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 21:16
Why is he the last person to do so?
Do you know anything we don't?
Or is it just the usual Labour Mud Slinging?
David Magro
Feb 16th, 16:39
Beppe how do you describe Austin Gatt action? Is it ethically and morally correct? Oh...sorry he forgot to report, he was not aware of what was going wrong in the contract/purchasing dept of oil enemalta! Beppe do you think that we are that fools to believe your arguments....biex tiskongra trid tkun pur.
Charles Massa
Feb 16th, 16:35
Kampanja negattiva minn PN. Mhux ahjar jaraw minn nesa jiddikjara il kont li ghandu l Isvizzera. Forsi Toni Abela ghandu kwalitijiet tajba u kwalitijiet hziena. Hadd ma huwa perfett!!!
B. Borg
Feb 16th, 16:16
Dr Franco Debono MP, on his own blog is asking “Can Gonzi guarantee all approved PN candidates have been screened for supplying drugs?”
Since currently the PN seems to be truly concerned with the drug trafficking problem, can we have a faithful answer to Dr Debono’s question.
Michael Vella
Feb 16th, 17:01
Dr. Franco Debono is irrelevant....we don't care what he has to say anymore
James Grech
Feb 16th, 17:12
Coming from Dr.Debono, who has been proven over and over again to be right, that is a very important allegation which Dr.Gonzi should take note off and answer!!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 16th, 17:24
No intelligent person pays any attention to Franco Debono after he was cast off by the Nationalist Party as an undesirable saboteur, when he has not found space alongside others in the LP rubbish skip and when he has not come out as an independent in the pending general election to prove his outrageous claim that he has any following.
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 18:04
Tghid mhux se naghtu kaz x'jghid Franco.
Saqsi lil Anglu!
Carmel Zammit
Feb 16th, 15:48
But look who is talking about morality!! During a debate on Bondi+ Beppe went as far as asserting that Dr. Anglu Farrugia accused Lp of corruption. So vile and morally misleading was this statement that even Lou Bondi felt he should deny this. So much for Beppe's pontification!!
Daniel Zarb
Feb 16th, 15:44
There was no evidence because Dr Abela got to know about the incident THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE. If anything it is the president of the kazin that should be implicated. But how low can we stoop just to pursue a few votes? A despicable campaign by the Nationalists.
James Grech
Feb 16th, 15:39
GonziPN are so naive & arrogant to think that they were/are always right and they've done everything perfect, that they don't even bother to explain what they would be doing if re-elected, in various sectors such as energy, health, job creation, foreign investment, research and innovation. And they waste time and energy on negative campaigning and mud-slinging.
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 16th, 15:38
'The majority of the Maltese, Dr Fenech Adami said, condemned those who closed their eyes to drug trafficking'. It happens every weekend in Paceville where our young people have been slowly but surely destroyed - but it seems everybody knows except the PN. You have kept your eyes closed for too many years Dr Fenech Adami.
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 21:17
You seem to know alot, Mr.Caruana. Have you ever reported this to the Police? Imbasta mhux Laburist, pero!
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 17th, 05:06
Mr Pace, the point is that we live in an island the size of a small city in Europe and the drug problem has not been controlled. Regarding your cheap 'Laburist' dig - I would be ready to take an oath that I have voted PN in the past. The difference between you and I is that I do not insist on refusing to see what is happening around me.
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 17th, 11:02
Denis I have found something for you that anybody can read.It took just 15 seconds on Google. It's about drinking not drugs but it shows you the state of our 'values' and it's on the Times for everybody to see.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101212/local/drinks-for-underage-youths-in-paceville-no-problem.340656
James Grech
Feb 16th, 15:33
What a load of hogwash!! The PN is devoid of ideas and proposals & is wasting time creating non-scandals instead of elaborating on their proposals. It is becoming clear that their electoral program is no match for the serious one compiled by the PL team. The latter, on the otherhand, continues to discuss their ideas and proposals with associations and individuals alike. What a breath of fresh air!
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 21:18
If the PN is devoid of ideas, why did the LP copy its proposals on to its Manifesto, and say that they will keep the same budget if elected?????
Please choose the reason of your report below: