The Office of the President insisted on Saturday that it does not have any organisational role in Paqpaqli għall-Istrina as a court case discusses the ill-fated 2015 edition which left several spectators injured.

"The President did not assume any organisational role in Paqpaqli għall-Istrina. It would have been irresponsible for the Head of State, who had no knowledge, and no technical expertise in automotive issues, to have done so," a statement from the Office of the President said.

The delicate court case took a turn on Thursday morning, after former president George Abela told the court that as president, he had felt the need to fully shoulder the responsibility of charity events such as Paqpaqli għall-Istrina, seemingly contradicted Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca's testimony.

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence in a case instituted by the police against a number of people involved in the organisation of the 2015 charity edition of Paqpaqli ghal l-Istrina motorshow in which a supercar crash injured 21 people.

But through a statement to the press, the office of Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said it wanted to appeal for the truth.

"While seeking to clarify any misconceptions that have arisen, the Office of the President would also like to appeal to everyone to refrain from unhelpful and inaccurate conjecture, which serves no purpose other than to hinder the vital quest for the truth, so that justice can be truly served."

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

It said the President, of her own volition, renounced her Constitutional immunity and chose to take the witness stand to present the court with the facts as she knew them.

It is correct to state that the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina event, conceived with the intention of raising funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, came into existence before Dr Coleiro Preca started her term in 2014 as President of Malta.

But it should be noted that, other than encouraging the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina team to continue to raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation and lending her patronage to the event, as she does with other third-party fundraising events, the President played absolutely no part in its organisation.

The President did, on one occasion, in July 2015 attend part of a meeting, with the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina team but took no substantive decisions.

The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation’s involvement in Paqpaqli għall-Istrina was strictly limited to providing administrative support, endorsement, promotion, and covering expenses related to the event.

"Any statement to the contrary is at best misleading and at worst a distortion of
the truth."

It is also pertinent to point out that in April 2015 – six months before the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina incident – a deliberate step was taken to create a distinction between the Office of the President and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

This radical change in the Malta Community Chest Fund, was reflected in its constitution, and this is because, the Malta Community Chest Fund was formally set up as a foundation regulated by law. Therefore, this change effectively reduced the dependence of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation on the Head of State, significantly altering the nature of the link that previously existed between the two.

It should also be noted that the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation retained its invaluable role as a fundraiser for, and appreciative beneficiary of, several initiatives like Paqpaqli għall-Istrina.

"The Office of the President affirms that ever since this horrific incident took place, its sole objective has been to express solidarity with the victims – and to cooperate with the authorities to ensure the facts are established."