Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1496177
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 APRIL 2023 NEWS Opera onal Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a compe ve and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Project part-financed by the Cohesion Fund Co-financing rate: 85% European Union Funds; 15% Na onal Funds CONNECTING THE DROPS EXPLORING WATER AS A CAREER CHOICE THE ENERGY & WATER AGENCY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MALTA & MCAST INVITE YOU TO AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP ON This interactive masterclass will provide an opportunity for students and recent graduates to meet and learn from people working in the water sector. Interested in making your voice heard and to propose sustainable solutions? Join us to learn and contribute as we very much look forward to what will be proposed by the next generation. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, KINDLY REGISTER BY CALLING 27772777 OR EMAIL ON INFO@EMCS.COM.MT THU 27 TH APRIL 2023 between 8:30 and 16:00 FRI 28 TH APRIL 2023 between 8:30 and 13:00 AT ESPLORA KARL AZZOPARDI RENTAL car company No De- posit Cars has singled out cus- tomers who signed a judicial pro- test by lawyer Jason Azzopardi, in which they asked that the compa- ny be investigated for tax evasion and money laundering. The AI generated video, posted to the company's Facebook page, was posted as a "right of reply" to the judicial protest signed by Az- zopardi on Thursday against No Deposit Cars, its parent company Princess Holdings and the compa- ny's owner Christian Borg. It is the second video of its kind posted to the company's Face- book page, with the first calling out MaltaToday journalists Karl Azzopardi and Luke Vella over an article published last Sunday, detailing how scores of customers would be seeking collective action against the company and alleged kidnapper Christian Borg. 26 customers have now request- ed the courts rescind hire pur- chase contracts between them and the company, claiming to have fallen victims to fraud and criminal conspiracy amongst oth- er crimes, inviting the police to investigate. In the video posted on Saturday morning, No Deposit Cars called out the lawyer for entering the case "for his own personal inter- est". Riddled with spelling mistakes, the video singles out customers involved in the judicial protest, even publishing personal details detailed in the court document. In an attempt to intimidate cus- tomers seeking the legal action, the video also outs some of the protest's signatories by revealing their name and photos uploaded to their social media accounts. "These are just some examples of who signed the protest, and while we appreciate everyone's opinion, it does not mean there will be any cancellation of debts owed to the company." "We rest assure our custom- ers we will not be intimidated by these futile actions, and irrele- vant claims made by customers to avoid paying their dues, and we will continue to use legal methods to collect any amounts owed to us available at law," the video's narra- tion can be heard saying. "Oh and Jason, before applying double standards, we suggest you look at your own tax affairs, and we remind the public that Jason has his own personal intentions in place," the video concludes. "We inform all those involved in the judicial protest that our company lawyers have already answered to each and every one." The court document outlines the customers' claims that Borg par- ticipated in a criminal conspiracy and had forced or induced them to pay over €1,000 for imaginary contraventions which the hapless customers were told they had in- curred – often in just one month. Borg's fleeced customers are requesting he also be investigat- ed and ultimately charged with having "promoted, constituted, organised or financed an organ- isation with a view to commit criminal offences which are pun- ishable by imprisonment for four years or more" - in layman's terms: participating in organised crime. In a short reaction to this devel- opment, lawyer Jason Azzopar- di said the video was "a flagrant breach of privacy" and rejected the "bullying and intimidation" being perpetrated by the company. "I will not deign to waste any time replying to con men, fraud- sters and alleged money launder- ers. This bullying and intimidation strengthen my resolve to carry on doing my duty to the best of my abilities on behalf of whoever asks me to help them in their legal problems. Frankly, I see it as a sign of panic. Moreover, what these fraudsters have done this morning is a flagrant breach of privacy in terms of the GDPR. The fact that someone has put their name on a judicial act doesn't mean anyone has the right to publish addition- al details unless there's a manifest public interest to do so. It further shows the blatant disregard they have for the law, emboldened by the impunity they have enjoyed courtesy of you know who," Azz- opardi said. Customers, lawyer singled out on Facebook video by rental company accused of tax evasion "This bullying and intimidation strengthen my resolve to carry on doing my duty to the best of my abilities on behalf of whoever asks me to help them in their legal problems." - Jason Azzopardi