President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca hired the services of two young lawyers to defend her legal interests following the Paqpaqli accident, the Times of Malta was told.
The President may soon be summoned to court as part of the inquiry led by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera. Last Thursday, she called an urgent meeting of the Malta Community Chest Fund Paqpaqli organising committee to inform them of the legal consequences expected from Sunday’s incident.
Sources close to the President’s office said she had advised all members not to give any public comment until the inquiry is over.
She also said that the two lawyers entrusted with the case, Clint Tabone and Mark Borg, were available to give their advice to the individual members of the committee.
The President of Malta is vested with immunity from both criminal and civil prosecution in the function of her constitutional obligations. However, this does not apply in the case of non-constitutional functions such as fund-raising activities.
According to its statute, the MCCF Foundation, chaired by Ms Coleiro Preca, does not enjoy immunity either.
She advised her office not to give any comment until the inquiry is over
“Should any litigation or dispute between the foundation or any administrator thereof arise, the parties to the dispute shall make every reasonable effort to resolve the dispute amicably by conducting negotiations in good faith,” the statute says.
“If the dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, any such dispute shall be decided by the competent courts of Malta in terms of applicable law.”
The statute was put on the MCCF’s website only yesterday. The Times of Malta requested a copy last Tuesday but did not receive a reply.
The newspaper also asked the Office of the President for a list of the members of the MCCF Paqpaqli organising committee. No information has yet been received.
Apart from the President, the board of administrators of the MCCF are John Camilleri, Joseph Bartolo, Matilde Cordina, Phelim Cavlan, Dabiel de Petri Testaferrata, Gordon Pace, Lisa Brooke and Carlotte Geronimi.
The President has cancelled her planned trip abroad and is dedicating all her time to the incident. She is said to be visiting the victims every day offering them support.
The Times of Malta is also informed that the insurance cover for last Sunday’s event should be adequate in case of claims for compensation.
Sources at the President’s office said that the event, insured by the MCCF through Mafre Middlesea, has a third part cover of more than €2 million.