The driver of the Porsche Spyder at the centre of proceedings concerning the Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina tragic ending back in 2015 had been hosted at San Anton Palace before the day of the accident, returning there after his discharge from hospital.
This new snippet of information was revealed on Tuesday during another lengthy session in court when a number of witnesses continued to testify in the criminal case against the 13-member strong core committee of the former annual fundraising car event.
Yet, the chairman on the board of administrators of the Malta Community Chest Fund, John Camilleri, declared that he had known nothing of this hosting arrangement before tragedy struck and only got to know after the accident.
It was only then that he had become aware that Paul Bailey and his wife had been staying at a suite inside the presidential palace, returning there even after receiving medical treatment after the crash.
The same witness, when facing multiple questions by lawyers on both sides of the case during Tuesday’s sitting, explained that, before the accident, the board of administrators had only met three times and had not engaged in any discussion regarding the Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina event.
In reply to a question by presiding magistrate Aaron Bugeja, Mr Camilleri declared that he had ‘no idea’ as to whether there had existed any form of written agreement or document to regulate relations between the MCCF and the event organisers.
Asked by lawyer Roberto Montalto whether he could identify any of the core committee members seated in court, the chairman said that he formerly only knew Tonio Darmanin, having only become acquainted with the others over the past months.
“There was ‘our’ Brian” the witness continued, clearly referring to Brian Gatt, who worked at the MCCF, prompting Dr Montalto to question how come Mr Camilleri knew nothing about the organising committee when one of his own staff had been involved.
Yet, Mr Camilleri insisted that there had been no interaction between the MCCF and the Paqpaqli organisers, adding that he had known nothing about the 2015 programme of events and had never personally visited the show.
“I am not a car enthusiast at all,” the witness declared.
When presented with a receipt issued by an insurer in respect of the event, addressed to the Office of the President, c/o MCCF, and covering the MCCF as well as Paqpaqli Productions, Mr Camilleri declared “we did not apply for this insurance. We paid for it but I assume it was applied for by the core committee”.
Asked by lawyer Reuben Farrugia as to who was authorised to act on behalf of the MCCF, the chairman was unable to answer off the cuff, declaring ‘I would have to go through this’ (after being presented with a copy of the Foundation statute), later stating that all members of the board of administrators acted jointly.
Pressed further, Mr Camilleri stressed that the board “absolutely took no decision and knew nothing of the event” adding that he had “got no handover from Mark Mallia or anyone else” in reply to a question by lawyer Giannella Demarco.
When Dr Demarco asked how the core committee had obtained permission to hold meetings inside ‘the small dining room or De Paule Hall’ at San Anton, his workplace, Mr Camilleri was unable to supply a straightforward reply.
“Do you see all these men here? Did they all enter San Anton in secret?” Dr DeMarco continued.
“I never gave permission, was never aware of the meetings and never chanced upon them” Mr Camilleri insisted.
A few minutes later, Roberta Cesareo, who served as secretary on a voluntary basis to the core committee for a few months before the 2015 event, affirmed that ‘it was normal practice to meet at San Anton’ pointing out that “members of the MCCF and the OPR always attended and played an important role”.
Recalling her last meeting, attended by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Ms Cesareo confirmed an introductory minute wherein it had been stated that “Her Excellency informed all present that any assistance from OPR would be provided at all levels, including logistics, marketing and volunteers”.
“I took down what I heard” the witness confirmed, pointing out that it was her duty to circulate a soft copy among all members of the core committee after having sent a first draft to Mr Darmanin.
Testifying last was Carm Briffa, secretary to the President, who explained that under the current Presidency “things had changed”, reaffirming that Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina was a third party event, left in the hands of third parties since “the MCCF did not have the expertise to organise such an event”.
Mr Briffa insisted that as a newly-founded foundation, the MCCF had to be “more transparent” declaring that there had been no hand over.
Police inspectors Josric Mifsud, Silvio Magro and Hubert Cini are prosecuting.
Lawyers Giannella DeMarco and Stephen Tonna Lowell are counsel to Paul Bailey. Lawyer Joe Giglio is counsel to Tonio Darmanin. Lawyer Stefano Filletti is counsel to Brian Gatt and Julian Manara.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi is defence counsel for Ian Cilia Pisani, Kevin Perry and Chris Sultana. Other members of the Paqpaqli team are being assisted by Michael Sciriha, Raphael Fenech Adami and Albert Zerafa.
Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia, Roberto Montalto, Michael Grech, Shazoo Ghaznavi, Alessia Zammit Mackeon and Reuben Farrugia are among the lawyers appearing parte civile for the victims.