Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1003259
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 JULY 2018 3 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 several peo- ple were injured after the car ca- reened off the track and ploughed into the crowd. Three Porsche engineering ex- perts, who formed part of a six- man team summoned to Malta to assist local experts after the crash, testified from Germany about their findings after they examined Bailey's hyper car in 2015. Thomas Gruenter, electrics and electronics specialist with the German car manufacturer since 2002, said the Porsche Spyder 918 had five driving programmes, which the driver could select at the press of a button on the steer- ing wheel. The driver could shift the driving mode from the least powerful e-power and hybrid onto the sports, race and hot lap modes.In the latter two modes, the car develops a maximum power of 900bhp. During the diagnostic tests in Malta, the engineers established that at the moment of impact, the Spyder had been set on race mode, with its general and trac- tion controls both switched off. They explained that such stabi- lisation control was used in case the vehicle ended up in a criti- cal position. Gruenter said that when the car was switched on, all systems would automatically be activated. Switching them off required an action by the driver, he added, clarifying further that since 2015, this was prescribed by EU law. Once the traction control was switched off, the vehicle would give three different alerts, con- sisting of warning lights and an acoustic signal, as feedback to the driver, the expert continued. Some 70 sensors all over the ve- hicle transmit data which provid- ed information of the state of the car exactly at the moment of im- pact, the witness explained. This information also indicated that the reading of the tyre pressure was somewhat lower according to the last reading recorded. Under cross-examination by Bailey's defence lawyer, Giannella de Marco, the witness explained that the information collected was handed over in pdf form to Martin Bajada, the Maltese court- appointed expert who had first contacted the Porsche representa- tives via the Maltese importer for assistance in the investigation. Gruenter said it was not possi- ble to determine the time when the traction and general controls were switched off, when asked by defence lawyer Stefano Filletti. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja is pre- siding over the compilation. Police inspectors Josric Mifsud, Silvio Magro and Hubert Cini are prosecuting. Giannella de Marco and Ste- phen Tonna Lowell are counsel to Paul Bailey. Appearing for the various members of the organising com- mittee are lawyers Joe Giglio, Fil- letti, Arthur Azzopardi, Michael Sciriha, Raphael Fenech Adami and Albert Zerafa. Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia, Roberto Montalto, Mi- chael Grech, Shazoo Ghaznavi, Alessia Zammit Mackeon and Reuben Farrugia are among the lawyers appearing parte civile for the victims. Lawyer Jason Azzopardi was as- sisting the Porsche witnesses in Germany during the video call. Porsche engineers report findings via video conference MASSIMO COSTA THE Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, has said that current Brexit issues in the United Kingdom should be clarified as soon as possible, especially in light of the fact that nego- tiations are now entering as "very delicate phase". Asked for his reaction re- garding the problems Brit- ish Prime Minister Theresa May is facing in her cabi- net – with foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister David Davis hav- ing quit their posts within hours of each other, dealing a severe blow to her Brexit plans – Muscat remarked that when he had said some time ago that Brexit might not happen, "everybody had laughed". "We all, including the Mal- tese government, wish that, ideally, Britain remains in the EU, but that is not our deci- sion to make," Muscat said. "We observe what is hap- pening in the United King- dom with interest, because they are one of our main partners. But it is not my role to comment on what is happening with other prime ministers and in other cabi- nets," he said. Prime Minister: We wish that UK remains in the EU but it is not our decision Latest Brexit news on Page 4 YANNICK PACE LOCAL authorities have sub- mitted an order for new batch- es of the medication Valsartan, which is used to treat high blood pressure, and are expect- ing delivery of it within a matter of days. In a statement issued yester- day, the Superintendent for Public Health (SPH) advised the public to consult with their doctor if they are using the medication and not to stop us- ing it unless they are in posses- sion of alternative medication. Stopping the medication, the SPH said, could negatively im- pact one's health. Last week the European Med- icines Agency (EMA) issued a warning about the medication after Zhejiang Huahai Pharma- ceuticals, a manufacturer of the active pharmaceutical ingredi- ent, reported finding the impu- rity N- nitrosodimethylamine in some batches of the drug. The impurity is known to be carcinogenic, causing the med- ication to be withdrawn in 22 countries. According to a statement on the Medicines Authority's website, 15 products which are available on the local mar- ket could potentially contain the ingredient. A number of patients obtain- ing the medication through the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme told MaltaToday that they were told that the pills be- ing supplied to them are poten- tially contaminated with a car- cinogenic ingredient. This newspaper received several calls from concerned patients, after they were told by their pharmacists that the POYC-supplied drugs con- tained the impurity. This was confirmed by POYC CEO Celia Falzon, who told MaltaToday that authorities had submitted an order for new batches of the medication, which should arrive within a matter of days. The impurity is considered to be highly toxic, especially to the liver, and is produced as a by-product of several indus- trial processes and is present at very low levels in certain food- stuffs like smoked or cured meats and fish and beer. The substance can also be formed during the treatment of water and is also ingested through smoking. A review by the EMA is cur- rently underway to determine the levels of impurity found in the various Valsartan medica- tions. New stock of blood pressure medication to arrive shortly