Unsurprisingly, Muscat, Mizzi, Schembri, and none of the further individuals and companies arraigned in Court pleaded guilty
Muscat and associates plead not guilty
20:55 | Ex First Couple leaving
We’re still trying to identify Michelle’s handbag 🙂 Good Night from Valletta!
20:25 | Tonight’s last court rulings
The court declared that
– documents are shared only with the parties involved in the criminal proceedings, while thirds parties need special permission,
– only “faithful reporting” [ergo objective and non-colourful reporting of information shared in open court] of are to be allowed, as already stated by law,
– the accused and their lawyers are prohibited from any scrutinising, analysing or criticising that could be detrimental to the proceedings and/or could prejudice the rights of the accused themselves,
– there are no travel restrictions for any of the accused as long as they’re appearing for every sitting so as not to impede the proceedings,
– it limitedly upheld the request by the prosecution in which the accused appear before court every single time, against a personal guarantee of €25,000 each.
Michael Kaden (via Monique Agius)
19:35 | Sitting suspended
… for 15 to 20 minutes as the magistrate is deciding on the prosecution’s last requests, including whether the defendants will be banned from commenting on the case in the media.
Michael Kaden (via Monique Agius)
18:50 | Ban on comments in the media requested
The prosecution requested the defendants to be prohibited from talking about the case in the media.
An article of the Criminal Code allows the court to impose such conditions on defendants who are not in custody.
He likened the behaviour of the accused to Trump’s and referred to comments made by them in the media and the spin given to the case.
Michael Kaden (via Nicole Meilak and Monique Agius)
18:27 | Exaggerated ‘trampling’ report
Soft news platform SideStreet Malta reported earlier today that Muscat supporters “trampled” the makeshift memorial for Daphne Caruana Galizia, “destroying” placards.
While NEWZ.mt can confirm that people were walking around in the flower bed and leaning against the monument, no substantial damage whatsoever could be found upon verification.
Michael Kaden
18:00 | The sitting drags on
17:08 | Excelsior or Instanbul?
Two rumours are making the rounds: Earlier today, former PN MP and lawyer Jason Azzopardi claimed that Joseph Muscat was due to catch a flight to Istanbul at 7.15pm, using the airport’s ministerial lounge.
Another rumour out there is about a possible Excelsior-style media conference, purportedly planned for 3pm, still to be held by Muscat later in the evening.
We cannot confirm any of these claims.
Michael Kaden
16:57 | Seizing and freezing orders issued
The court issued the seizing and freezing orders against all individuals and companies as requested by the prosecution after hearing all submissions.
Michael Kaden (via Monique Agius)
16:15 | Defence’s argument rejected
Magistrate Rachel Montebello rejected the defence’s request for the prosecution to be ordered to justify the amounts requested in the attachment and freezing orders.
Michael Kaden (via Monique Agius)
15:40 | “Don’t film me”
Another Laburista is complaining loudly that she, while being present at a public demonstration of support for Joseph Muscat, was filmed by journalist.
We’ve listened to a number of such complaints throughout the day.
Michael Kaden
14:55 | Sitting suspended
After lengthy discussions about freezing orders and requests made by the defence lawyers, the sitting has been suspended until 3.30pm while the court is ruling on those requests.
Some court reporters have joined their colleagues outside to enjoy their first break of the day together.
The situation outside has calmed down as most Labour supporters have already left the square earlier in the afternoon.
Michael Kaden
13:07 | Muscat pleads…
“absolutely not guilty”. Both Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri similarly plead not guilty.
Muscat says he is an advisor on economy and management, self-employed, and replies “absolutely not guilty”.
Mizzi says he is a management consultant, and replies “not guilty”.
Schembri says “not guilty”.
Clarence John Conger Thompson pleads not guilty.
Christopher Spiteri says he is an auditor, not guilty.
Jonathan Vella pleads not guilty.
Adrian Hillman, lecturer, pleads not guilty.
Pierre Sladden pleads not guilty.
David-Joseph Meli pleads not guilty.
Brian Tonna pleads not guilty.
Karl Cini, an accountant, pleads not guilty.
Ivan Vassallo, a director, pleads not guilty.
Mario Victor Gatt, a general manager, pleads not guilty.
Brian Bondin, a general manager, pleads not guilty.
Gateway Solutions Ltd represented by Ivan Vassallo.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi says the company is pleading not guilty.
Technoline represented by Ivan Vassallo.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi says the company is pleading not guilty.
Eurybates Ltd represented by Ivan Vassallo.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi says the company is pleading not guilty.
MTrace p.l.c. represented by Kurt Farrugia and Jesmond Silvo, their lawyer, Chris Cilia tells the court.
He said the company is pleading not guilty.
Nexia BT Ltd also pleaded not guilty.
Sciacca Grill’s representative Noel Zammit pleads not guilty on the company’s behalf.
Kasco Engineering Company Ltd’s representative Malcolm Scerri pleads not guilty on the company’s behalf.
FSV Ltd’s representative, Josette Schembri, pleaded not guilty on the company’s behalf.
Taomac Ltd represented by Norman Clews, and he pleaded not guilty.
Michael Kaden (via Monique Agius)
13:00 | 25 pages of charges
It took prosecutor Francesco Refalo almost an hour to read out the 32 charges, before moving on to the requests for freezing orders against the accused.
The trio is being accused of:
- converting or transferring of property knowing or suspecting that such property is derived directly or indirectly from, or the proceeds of, criminal activity or from an act or acts of participation in criminal activity, for the purpose of or purposes of concealing or disguising the origin of the property or of assisting any person or persons involved or concerned in criminal activity;
- concealing or disguising of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement, rights with respect of, in or over, or ownership of property, knowing or suspecting that such property is derived directly or indirectly from criminal activity or from an act or acts of participation in criminal activity;
- acquiring, possessing or using property knowing or suspecting that the same was derived or originated directly or indirectly from criminal activity or from an act or acts of participation in criminal activity;
- retaining without reasonable excuse of property knowing or suspecting that the same was derived or originated directly or indirectly from criminal activity or from an act or acts of participation in criminal activity; among other charges.
Muscat, Mizzi, and Schembri are also being separately accused of promoting, establishing and organising a criminal organisation of more than ten individuals, with the intention of committing crimes that carry a prison term of four or more years.
We’ll be preparing a comprehensive yet compact article about today’s hearing for Wednesday morning.
Michael Kaden
12:00 | Crowds dwindle as the sitting begins
11:48 | Konrad Mizzi denies everything
In comments given to journalists shortly before entering court, disgraced former health minister Konrad Mizzi denied all the accusations he is facing, claiming that the inquiry was “unprofessional” and that his legal team will endeavour to clear his name.
Mizzi did not directly answer a question about the undeniable pattern of secrecy which characterised the agreements which made up the concession. Instead, he simply echoed the Labour Party’s claims about a lack of transparency in the way in which court experts were appointed to carry out the inquiry.
Julian Delia
11:20 | Schembri, Mizzi and Muscat arrived
We’re still outside court as the main suspects of the case make their way to court. We managed to nab a quick comment from Konrad Mizzi and a few seconds of footage of Keith Schembri as he made his way into the courtroom to chants of “Viva l-Labour”. We are yet to obtain footage of Muscat making his way out of court.
Julian Delia
10:05 | Supporters chant “Viva L-Labour”
09:40 | Hundreds of Laburisti showed up
Hundreds of Joseph Muscat’s supporters have shown up in front of the Courts building against the advice of Prime Minister Robert Abela and his disgraced predecessor. Julian Delia (The Critical Angle project) and Michael Kaden (NEWZ.mt) are reporting live.
23:20 | Police already present
The police have deployed single officers in several shifts to the makeshift memorial for Daphne Caruana Galizia, in order to watch over the memorial and the square in front of the Courts building until the morning.
Michael Kaden
22:25 | UK and Italy issue warnings
Both the UK’s Foreign Office and the Italian government have advised their citizens to exercise caution.
“There may be demonstrations near the Courts of Justice in Republic Street in Valletta on 28 and 29 May”, the UK’s Foreign Office said.
“Demonstrations in Malta are rare and generally peaceful. In the event of a demonstration, visitors should take sensible precautions and avoid crowds”, it added.
The Italian authorities advised that “maximum caution is recommended and Italian nationals are invited to follow the instructions provided by the Maltese police authorities”.
Michael Kaden
22:05 | Massive police presence
While rumours about the planned deployment of 500 police officers on Tuesday could not be independently verified, NEWZ.mt understands that police presence in Valletta will be massive.
Each newsteam reporting from outside the Courts building has been assigned a personal security officer (PSO) – in some cases one officer per journalist.
The Malta Police Force offered this level of protection in a meeting with the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) following a request by its president Matthew Xuereb.
This followed Prime Minister Robert Abela’s dangerous comments that the judiciary, the media, particular journalists, and the opposition formed part of what he called the “establishment” acting against the Labour Party.
Michael Kaden
21:50 | Labour insiders fear gathering will backfire
Earlier on Monday, the Times of Malta cited a high-ranking PL source who said that events in Valletta in the morning could derail weeks of campaigning.
PL insiders told the Times they’re concerned that tensions could spill over and taint the entire party.
“It only takes one bad apple”, the newspaper quoted a Labour minister who said he would “be lying” if he said “there isn’t an undercurrent of concern”, although expecting a “peaceful demonstration” that “will end well”.
“It’s going to be quite tense”, another Labour source described as ‘well-placed’ told the Times.
Michael Kaden
21:40 | Good evening
We’re in Valletta on the eve of disgraced former prime minister Joseph Muscat’s arraignment in court.
It’s still business as usual in Malta’s capital and nothing hints at the anticipated solidarity meeting of Muscat’s supporters tomorrow morning, as no barriers have been placed yet.
Labour firebrand Manuel Cuschieri has encouraged party supporters to show up outside court, for what he has termed a “solidarity meeting” for Muscat.
Muscat and Robert Abela have tried to downplay the event and urged people to show support by voting Labour on 8 June instead.
Michael Kaden
