Libyan nationals, eager to testify about how they allegedly paid a government official for medical visas which should have been issued for free, are currently facing great pressure not to do so.
This was alleged on Monday morning by Ivan Grech Mintoff who, once again, took the witness stand under cross-examination in libel proceedings instituted by OPM official Neville Gafà against David Lindsay, as editor of the Malta Independent on Sunday.
“After the last sitting, just four days later, Mr Gafà was back in Libya offering these people money for them not to testify,” Mr Grech Mintoff explained to the court, before stepping off the witness stand. “There’s great pressure on them at present.”
Whilst taking note of this additional piece of information, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale declared that a Skype call with the prospective witnesses would be scheduled to take place during the next sitting, adding that unless the call was effected on that date, the court would move on.
Earlier on in his testimony, Mr Grech Mintoff explained how the Libyans, named under the ‘list of persons willing to testify’ presented in the records of the case, had contacted him about the alleged illicit sale of Schengen visas at the Maltese Consulate in Tripoli as well as the issuance of Humanitarian Medical Visas by OPM official Neville Gafà.
They want to testify directly. They do not trust the police in Malta. They wish to give their evidence directly to the court.
“To make it clear, those persons contacted me. It was not the other way round,” Mr Grech Mintoff said, explaining how he had spoken to the Libyan nationals over the phone, even recording the call “with their permission.”
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The Libyans had released formal statements through their legal system, putting their story in affidavit form, “ID and mobile numbers included,” the witness explained, adding that he had obtained an English translation of those statements.
“There were 13 in all,” Mr Grech Mintoff explained, going on to state that out of those 13, three had been chosen to speak on behalf of the group.
“So you are the voice of someone out there. The court would like to hear that voice,” Magistrate Depasquale interrupted, further ordering Mr Grech Mintoff to present in court translations of the full accounts given by the said Libyans in their native tongue and to have them certified as true.
“They want to testify directly. They do not trust the police in Malta. They wish to give their evidence directly to the court,” Mr Grech Mintoff stressed. “All we need is the fixing of a date for the Skype call and they would be willing to testify,” continued the witness.
Faced with this scenario, Mr Grech Mintoff’s cross-examination by legal procurator Peter Paul Zammit, as counsel to Mr Gafà, was suspended and the case was adjourned to March for the Skype call to take place.
However, just before leaving the stand, Mr Grech Mintoff delivered one final piece of information in open court, claiming that after the previous sitting, Mr Gafà had allegedly returned to Libya in a fresh attempt to stop the men from testifying by offering them money.
Mr Grech Mintoff explained that he even had photos to support his claim.
Whilst taking formal note of this final piece of information, Magistrate Depasquale stated that unless the Skype call was effected during the next sitting, the court would move on with the proceedings.
The case continues in March.