A magistrate has ordered the police to prosecute former GRTU chief Vince Farrugia for perjury and subornation of witnesses in the criminal case against developer Sandro Chetcuti.
Magistrate Aaron Bugeja found that there was enough prima facie evidence for this criminal case against Mr Farrugia to start. However, he found that there was not enough evidence to take action against Mr Farrugia for the fabrication of false evidence.
"The court is convinced that Mr Farrugia not only tried to influence witnesses by telling them how and what to testify but even in his own testimony, tried painting a picture to give the impression that the attack was more brutal than it actually was," the magistrate said in a long judgment that he spent more than an hour reading.
He was ruling in an application, known in legal jargon as a challenge against the Police Commissioner, requesting the court to order the police to charge Mr Farrugia in court.
In September 2013, Mr Chetcuti was convicted of having slightly injured Mr Farrugia, the former GRTU Director-General when he assaulted him at the association's offices in 2010.
He was condemned to a one month jail term suspended for one year. Mr Chetcuti was ordered not to speak to Mr Farrugia for a year in terms of a €1,000 protection order.
The case took place in March 2010 and Mr Chetcuti had originally been accused of Mr Farrugia's attempted murder but the prosecution had dropped this charge, leaving assault with intent to cause serious injury as the most serious charge.
The court, presided by then Magistrate Edwina Grima, had also ordered the Commissioner of Police to investigate Mr Farrugia and other witnesses who may have testified falsely before the court but despite an investigation, no action had ever been taken, leading Mr Chetcuti to file the challenge.
In her judgment, Magistrate Grima, who has since been promoted to judge, noted that even before the court procedures started, Mr Farrugia had tried to use his influential position to ensure that Mr Chetcuti faced a trial by media.
Evidence of SMS messages and other contacts showed that he had contacted journalists and even vetted articles and comments in the press.
Magistrate Bugeja upheld Mr Chetcuti's request and also ordered the Police Commissioner to investigate also other witnesses in the criminal case against Mr Chetcuti who could have committed perjury by lying or else telling only part of the truth.
Lawyers Edward Gatt and William Cuschieri appeared for Mr Chetcuti.