Bomb threats will not cause the evacuation of the law courts unless a suspect package is identified under new proposals that came out of top level meetings.
If a bomb did explode, those waiting just outside would surely be hurt
With criticism mounting as this year looks set to record the highest ever annual total of bomb threats against the Valletta courts, Justice Minister Chris Said held meetings with the top brass of the police, army and courts to discuss ways to prevent bomb threats slowing down the wheelsof justice.
Obligatory security screening of everyone entering courts and harsher jail sentences are the other proposals that emerged from meetings with the Police Commissioner, the Armed Forces Brigadier, Director General of the Law Courts and the Chamber of Advocates, a Justice Ministry spokesman told The Sunday Times.
Eleven bomb threats against the courts have already been recorded this year, with four this month alone.
Last year, there were 12 bomb threats recorded at the courts, compared with 17 in 2010, 15 in 2009 and four in 2008, according to official court figures.
The issue made the news last week when lawyer and opposition Justice spokesman José Herrera called in Parliament forlegislation to deter bomb hoaxes, which he said were becoming “a sick joke”.
When contacted, Labour MP and lawyer Luciano Busuttil also condemned the “untenable situation”.
“We waste two hours each time. Cases are postponed, only to clash with other sittings. If a witness is summoned for a hearingand the court postpones the case, that poor soul has wasted a day,” said Dr Busuttil, who also raised the issue in Parliament this month. Dr Busuttil went on to criticise the current evacuation procedure.
“Everyone waits just outside the courtbuilding. If a bomb did explode, thosewaiting just outside would surely be hurt.”
Whenever a bomb threat is received, the judge or magistrate in every hall is informed they should evacuate.
Most judges follow procedure, but Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono – who retired in 2010 – grew so fed up with the regularity of the bomb hoaxes that he would ignore them and allow proceedings to continue.
“I assumed responsibility for my courtroom to avoid the unnecessary disruption of justice. In fact, I’d chuckle to myself when I saw the others needlessly leaving,” he said.
People found guilty of making bomb threats are currently liable to one year in jail.
However, they often receive less. Last June kiosk owner Joseph Brincat was jailed for six months after he admitted phoning the court house and claiming there was a bomb in a bid to have his VAT case postponed.
Dr Busuttil said lawyers suspect bomb threats are made by people looking to postpone their cases, take revenge for their sentences or just play pranks.
“We (lawyers) are definitely not happy. We are prolonging the life of court cases needlessly and at an additional cost to the client since to summon witnesses you need to pay again,” Dr Busuttil said.