Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1086539
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 FEBRUARY 2019 3 NEWS 2015 Paqpaqli tragedy MATTHEW VELLA AN Italian lorry driver has reported an aggressive man- handling by Maltese police officers after his lorry was set on fire while in Malta. Driver Fabrizio Scirè filed a police report, as well as noti- fied Malta's home affairs min- istry and the Italian embassy through his lawyer, of the ag- gression, which was recorded on a CCTV camera directly overhead. In the video, Scirè appears to be in an animated dialogue with police officers while his lorry is on fire. But at one point, one of the officers grabs Scirè and pushes him onto the front of a car and later against a wall. The rest of the police officers then intervene. Sicilian news outlet Siracu- saNews reported the alleged aggression, saying that Scirè has been residing and work- ing on the island for three years, where he runs a con- struction business. In comments to Siracu- saNews, Scirè said that he was asking the police officers to help him move the other cars next to the lorry so that they won't catch fire. "Without any reason, the officers attacked me and my son, beating us up and calling us 'f***ing Ital- ians'." Italian businessman reports Maltese police over aggression Fabrizio Scirè KURT SANSONE INSURANCE claims for damage caused by Sunday's storm could run into several millions but an accurate estimate will not be available for weeks, an industry repre- sentative said. Adrian Galea, director general of the Malta Insurance Association, said it was too early to quantify the extent of claims because there was a lengthy evaluation process. "Every insurance claim is evaluated on its own merits and people would be col- lecting quotations and in some instances waiting for the surveyor to assess the damage, so it will be some time before the industry can quantify the cost but I be- lieve it would run into several millions," Galea said. The hail storms of 2013 and 2015, which caused damage to vehicles because of the sheer size of the ice that dropped from the sky, ended up with insurance companies footing a bill of between €10 million and €11 million. "This weekend's storm had a bit of eve- rything and caused damage to vehicles, property, businesses and boats," Galea said. He debunked the perception that such events, known in popular jargon as acts of God, are not covered by insurance. "There is no such thing as an act of God but it all depends on what type of policy the individual would have taken out," Galea said. A comprehensive insurance policy would cover damage caused to a car by a falling tree, he added but one cannot ex- pect to be compensated if the policy taken out only covers third party damage. In the aftermath of the storm, people have been counting the damage caused to their property. From destroyed food kiosks to flooded apartment blocks, from felled trees to damaged cars, no part of the island was sparred. Sources within the insurance industry have lifted the lid on the extent of some of the damages incurred by clients. A property in the south of Malta had a rubble wall pulled down by a fallen tree with costs expected to surpass €3,000. Solar panels in various localities also fell victim to the stormy weather, some caus- ing damage to third parties when they dis- lodged from rooftops. Businesses, especially in seaside locali- ties also lodged claims for damages in- curred from the strong waves that bat- tered the coastline. Weather damage was also visible at the Malta Football Association's Centenary Stadium in Ta' Qali and the adjacent training grounds. Part of the canopy at the stadium and the perimeter fence were damaged significantly. Even the Addolorata cemetery got a bat- tering. Large Norfolk and Aleppo pines at the public cemetery were uprooted, dam- aging footpaths and graves. Government has meanwhile set in mo- tion the mechanism to try and tap EU emergency funds and set up an emergen- cy phone number for farmers and fishers who suffered significant damage to their livelihood. Insurance claims could run into several millions Large Norfolk and Aleppo pines at the Addolorata Cemetery were uprooted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 He had travelled to Malta on 1 October, 2015 and was met at the airport by Sandro Cauchi, a local Porsche representative, and accompanied to San Anton Pal- ace where he stayed during his three-day stay. He recalled how someone from the organising committee had provided him with a blueprint of the track but could not remem- ber who that person was. Dineuff said he had fine-tuned the design, adding safety meas- ures like chicanes and braking zones since he was aware that amateurs would be driving the vehicles at up to 200km/hr. He also admitted that he was not the one responsible for bar- riers installed around the track. "We didn't know where the spectators would be," he said, pointing out that there had been no communication with the or- ganisers but only with the local representative for Porsche. Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco asked Dineuff whether he had drawn attention to the fact that the circuit was not designed for the Spyder and Dineuff re- plied by saying that he didn't re- member. "I don't recollect whether I did because I was busy with custom- ers. I don't remember whether I told Sandro or anyone else." Dineuff accused Bailey of driv- ing faster than when Dineuff performed test runs. "He went straight to the chicane, he went faster, much faster it seemed to me," he said. Lawyers Stephen Tonna Low- ell and De Marco, assisting Mr Bailey, pointed out that their client had been asked to testify more than once in the course of the magisterial inquiry, and this in between facing neurosurgical interventions for the injuries suf- fered in the crash. His statements, having been given without the assistance of a lawyer, should be declared inad- missible by the court, in the light of a strong line of case-law on this subject. The lawyers also requested the separation of proceedings in re- spect of Bailey whose "defence is logically different from that of the other co-accused." Tonna Lowell also brought into question the legitimacy of the circuit designer's statements. "It is unacceptable to have an expert draw up a report and deliver an opinion when he has no expertise on the matter," she argued, labelling the expert in question as "manifestly incom- petent since he possesses no qualification save for a one-year evening course on motor me- chanics." Magistrate Aaron Bugeja granted the lawyers for the vic- tims one month within which to rebut these arguments in writ- ing, so that a decision could then be taken by the court. The case continues in May. Track designer says he was not responsible for barrier placement Paul Bailey (centre), the driver owner of the Porsche Spyder, leaving the law courts with his lawyer, Giannella de Marco (left) Storm damage