Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1477650
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 AUGUST 2022 4 NEWS The men are accused of assaulting their roommate, after he complained about the noise they were making • Bail was granted, with the three men being released from arrest against a deposit of €100 and a €5,000 personal guarantee, each MATTHEW AGIUS THREE men who had been charged with assaulting a roommate earlier this month have been released on bail, af- ter their landlords informed the court that they would be keeping them on as tenants. The incident occurred on 13 August, when Indian nation- als Ansar Kothezhath Nikarth Kunjali, 40, Sony Raphel, 43, and Sistus Puthenthara Sebas- tian, 44, had been drinking in- side an apartment where one of them lived. They are accused of assault- ing another Indian national who resides at the same apart- ment, after he had complained to the men about the noise they were making. Having been ignored by the rowdy drinkers, the victim had left the apartment, walking to a nearby public garden. The ac- cused followed him to the pub- lic garden, where the assault is alleged to have taken place during the night between Sat- urday and Sunday. The accused men's landlords testified before Magistrate Gabriella Vella today, telling the court that they had nev- er encountered any problems with the tenants and that they intended on honouring their lease agreements. "He has always been a good tenant, always respected the terms of the contract and he's never given me a reason to kick him out," Puthenthara Sebas- tian's landlord said, adding that despite living in the same building, he had "never heard a peep out of him." Ansar Kothezhath Nikarth Kunjali's landlady also testi- fied, explaining that the ac- cused man had just entered a six-month rental contract with her. The accused's employer took the stand to confirm that the accused men were still em- ployed with him. He said he would roster the accused and the victim, who also works for him, on separate shifts and dif- ferent projects. The prosecution objected to the request for bail, arguing that there was still a very real risk of the accused absconding. Lawyer Matthew Xuereb, ap- pearing parte civile for the al- leged victim, asked the court to take into account the seri- ous nature of the charges when considering bail. The lawyer asked the court that if bail was to be granted, a protection or- der would be issued in favour of his client. Bail was granted, with the three men being released from arrest against a deposit of €100 and a €5,000 personal guaran- tee, each. The accused were also ordered to surrender their passports and observe a curfew. The court also issued a pro- tection order in favour of the alleged victim, ordering the three accused not to approach or contact the man, or speak to him if they encountered him at work. The court also appointed a medical expert to examine the victim and document any inju- ries he may have suffered. Construction workers charged with assaulting colleague, released on bail Order of Malta Na�o�al �rt �������o� The Maltese Associa�on of the Order of Malta, a registered Voluntary Organiza�on, No. 1885, shall be holding a 'Na�onal Art th th Exhibi�on' between the 24 March and the 6 April 2023 at St John's Cavalier, by kind permission of H.E. Prince Augusto Ruffo di Calabria, the Order's Ambassador to Malta. The exhibi�on shall feature both established and upcoming ar�sts. It is intended to be a show piece of Maltese art, featuring Malta's best ar�sts through their various preferred media, such as oil, pastel, water colours, ceramic, glass, stone, photography, bronze, metal work, and so on. All ar�sts living in Malta and Gozo are most welcome to par�cipate. Prospec�ve par�cipants shall inform the organizers by email at info@orderofmalta-malta.org.mt by no later than the 15th September 2022. The Terms and Condi�ons for inclusion shall then be no�fied by return email to all applicants, who shall confirm their commitment by no later than the 8th October 2022. All works shall be ve�ed for inclusion by an independent commi�ee made up of notable experts in their field, whose decision for inclusion shall be final. Accepted works must be delivered by no later than the 8th February 2023. An illustrated Catalogue of all exhibits, which will include a recent photo and CV of each ar�st, shall be printed for the occasion. THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY HOSPITALLER ORDER OF ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM, OF RHODES AND OF MALTA MALTESE ASSOCIATION __________ CASA LANFREDUCCI, 2, PJAZZA JEAN DE VALLETTE, VALLETTA VLT1104 – MALTA TEL: +356 2122 6919, +356 2124 6406 THE Gozo Tourism Association has welcomed the scuttling of the Hephaestus at ix- Xatt l-Ah- mar, the fourth vessel scuttled on the south coast of Gozo. In November, 1999, on the ini- tiative of the Gozo Tourism As- sociation in collaboration with Gozo Channel and the Ministry for Gozo, the ferry MV Xlen- di was scuttled, followed by the double scuttling of the MV Kar- wela and the MV Cominoland in August 2006. With the scuttling of the Hep- haestus, ix-Xatt l-Ahmar site has become a hub of underwater wrecks. "This additional scuttling will add more diversity and a differ- ent experience to those divers who frequent this site," the asso- ciation said in a statement. "Fur- thermore, it will offer another underwater attraction on the south coast of Gozo, which is so sought after, when strong North westerly wind prevails during the diving season." It described the latest scuttling as an important step towards the enhancement of the Gozitan touristic product, especially dur- ing these recovery times for the tourism sector. The association said it believed that the diving segment on Gozo will reap great benefits from this scuttling and will continue to consolidate the importance of the diving niche for the tourism industry on Gozo. Gozo tourism body welcomes scuttling of Hephaestus at ix-Xatt l-Ahmar Photo: Paul Scicluna