Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1449240
6 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 FEBRUARY 2022 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS AN elderly man from Marsa has told a court how a Nigerian woman had disappeared with expensive gifts despite promis- ing to marry him. Nadine Lia heard challenge proceedings filed against the Commissioner of Police by the 79-year-old victim this morning. The man is claiming that the police did not act after he had reported the woman, whom he could only name as Julie or Joy, for fraud. The man told the court that he didn't know the woman's real name and that he doesn't use so- cial media. "She's been in Malta for over two years and arrived via Italy," he said, adding that the woman had told him that she worked as a cleaner at pri- vate residences but that he had found out that she was actually unemployed. Inspector Wayne Camilleri, appearing on behalf of the Com- missioner of Police, asked the man whether he had voluntar- ily given this woman the gold items that he had bought for her. She had promised him that if they broke up, she would give everything back, "but this didn't happen," said the victim. "At the beginning, she would 'play ball with me' about getting married," he said. "I let you know everything, give me a chance, wait wait,' she would say." The Inspector asked the victim whether he recalled releasing the police a statement. He recalled signing it, accusing the inspector of promising him he would take care of the case but of instead "doing nothing." Inspector Wayne Camilleri took the stand, testifying about the investigation. The man had gone to the Marsa police sta- tion and made a declaration, explained the inspector. "He had told us that he had met a Nigerian woman…unfortunate- ly, we had no details about this woman. Sometimes he'd say her name was Julie, sometimes Joy. We carried out several inspec- tions at an address provided, but nobody ever answered." The Inspector said he had nev- er been given particulars of the woman or details about her. He had spoken to the duty magis- trate about issuing a warrant but had been told that there was no cause for one. "Today, the police database doesn't feature any per- son called Judy or Joy," he added. He had sent officers at least three times to the address pro- vided by the man, to no avail. "This name never featured any- where, and I had no details. The magistrate had said that this was a civil case and that there was no cause for a warrant." Defence lawyer Ruth Scott dic- tated a note, asking the court for the opportunity to exhibit the entire correspondence between the challenger and the police. The court observed that the case had been ongoing for two years, asking why the defence was ask- ing for this correspondence now. Scott said she believed this in- formation had been filed togeth- er with the criminal complaint. The complainant is almost 80 years old, she explained, "he had told the police that the wom- an had promised to marry him, taken what she could from him and then disappeared. The po- lice had not even investigated whether anyone matched the description of this "Julie or Joy" at the address. They just found that people lived there." The plaintiff had pointed out to the police where she lived from the outset, added the lawyer. "God forbid the po- lice give up after three unsuc- cessful attempts." Inspector Frendo argued that the police had investigated what they could. There was no name, but a photograph of the wom- an had been provided, he said. None of the people who were at the premises matched the photograph, he said. The victim did not tell the police who had brought the two people together. "It emerged clearly that he had given her the gold as gifts as he wanted to marry her, but is this fraud? From the legal aspect, it is not a fraud. Even so, I had still tried to obtain a warrant to search the place and discussed it with the magistrate. He agreed and told me that there was noth- ing criminal about the case," submitted the inspector. The case will continue later this month. 79-year-old abandoned by Nigerian woman he courted expects gold gifts back Agenzija Sapport handling blue badge applications as from 1 March An elderly man is challenging police to investigate a woman he courted for fraud after she broke off the relationship and made off with gold gifts • Police say case is a civil matter LUKE VELLA FROM 1 March the services for blue badge applications will move away from the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and will instead be provided by Agenzija Sapport. Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli called the move another "mile- stone" for the simplification of disabil- ity services. "This decision marks a simplification process and a move towards a one stop shop. We aim to gather as many servic- es as possible under one roof," Farrugia Portelli said. The blue badge is the legal document that permits persons with mobility is- sues, who drive, to park in the spaces specifially reserved for them. Those with mobility issues and specific disa- bilities are eligible for the blue badge, Farrugia Portelli remarked. She also explained the document is recognised in a number of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States. In 2021 the CRPD issued over 3,800 new blue badges and renewed around 2,400, with 12,000 people making use of the service. "This process requires a lot of work. We are now providing a more holistic service, so one does not have to travel from one place to another to get the ser- vice [...] Simplification leads to a more streamlined service and facilitates lives of disabled persons.," Farrugia Portelli said. "The CRPD will now take on a more important role of educational cam- paigning and enforcement." Aġenzija Sapport CEO Ruth Sciberras said personnel from the agency are cur- rently undergoing specialised training so they would be able to assess applica- tions. "The process will remain similar to what it was, so we don't shock the sys- tem […] We look forward to offering a more centralised service," Sciberras said. Samantha Pace Gasan, CRPD Com- missioner said this move is a continu- ation of the process initiated in 2017, under the empowerment scheme. "CRPD will take on a regulatory role now. The blue badge is not a VIP card but a document that offers accessibility and inclusion to persons with disability. Without the blue badge, many people face isolation," Pace Gasan said. She said that during 2021, 206 reports of abuse were investigated, with most turning out to be genuine cases. Julia Farrugia