10 years ago - The Times
Friday, October 31, 2008
Ex-prison guard wins over €180,000
Anthony Mifsud, a former prison guard wrongfully charged over the 1982 prison escape of Louis Bartolo and Ahmed Khalil Habib, won more than €180,000 in compensation after a court ruled he had been tortured by two former police superintendents during interrogation.
Mr Mifsud, who was in his 20s at the time, had been arrested, tortured and wrongfully charged with corruption and complicity in the notorious escape after a “confession” he made under interrogation at gunpoint by one of the police officers.
Gatt defends tariffs
In a rebuttal of industry’s criticism of the new electricity charges, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt today says that 32 hotels whose utility costs were subsidised will actually make savings under the new regime.
Writing in The Times, Dr Gatt gives a breakdown of the government’s estimates for the private sector and says that 90 of the firms whose bills were previously capped will either see a fall in their costs or will not pay more than €1,000 to €10,000 above their present bills.
25 years ago - The Times
Sunday, October 31, 1993
Boy in shotgun accident
Silvio Gauci, a 16-year-old boy from Naxxar, is in a critical condition after a shotgun he was carrying accidentally went off and he was hit in the stomach yesterday at about 3pm.
The boy was hunting with his father George in their field at t’Alla u Ommu when the accident happened. Silvio was rushed to St Luke’s Hospital where he was immediately operated on. The father collapsed upon arrival at the hospital, police sources said.
A magisterial inquiry was held later in the afternoon.
Tough penalties in health and safety Bill
A Bill promoting occupational health and safety makes offenders liable to imprisonment for up to two years or to a fine of up to Lm2,000 or to both fine and imprisonment.
Licences and permits issued in the name of the person found guilty may also be cancelled.
The Occupational Health and Safety (Promotion) Bill, 1993, which repeals the Factories Ordinance, was published in Friday’s Government Gazette.
The bill provides for the setting up of a Commission for the Promotion of Occupational Health and Safety.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Thursday, October 31, 1968
Luqa Airport to stay open for Christmas traffic
Luqa airport will now be operational for the heavy air traffic of Christmas and the New Year. This was confirmed by the RAF authorities yesterday who stated that although long-overdue repairs to the runways will start as scheduled in late November, over 6,000 feet of the main runway at Luqa will be kept operative till January 13.
Group Captain J. C. Atkinson, Group Captain Flying, at RAF Luqa, explained that work will first be carried out on the Luqa village end of the main runway as this section needed considerable repairs and was in a deteriorating state. Part of it will be constructed in cement.
Plans have been drawn up with a view of interrupting the operation of civil aircraft as little as possible. The RAF authorities are making buildings available at Ħal Far airfield for Civil Aviation offices, including police and customs as well as restaurant and lounge, when during the period January 13-March 31 Luqa will be inoperational due to work in progress on the intersection of the main runway. All aircraft will operate from Ħal Far during that period.
Air Commodore C. V. Winn, Air Commander Malta, said yesterday it had become imperative to renew and resurface the airfield, which was showing severe signs of wear and tear.