Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1509422
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 OCTOBER 2023 4 Enemalta would like to bring to the market's attention the upcoming judicial sale by auction of various data centre equipment and material. The full list of items to be put up for sale, including, a valuation report by a court expert will be shared with any interested bidder free of charge by sending an email on datacentreauction@enemalta. com.mt. Date: 18th October, 2023 at 11am Location: Data Centre, One (1) Chamber at the former A Station, Marsa Power Station, Triq Belt il-Ħażna This advert is not to be taken as advice on court procedure and any interested bidders are to make their own independent verification and seek advice if they deem necessary. MATTHEW AGIUS TWO men have been remanded in custody on charges of theft and assaulting police of- ficers in Paceville yesterday morning. The man, Eritrean Kidu Gebremariam Gebrecharikos,37, who said he was home- less and unemployed, and Somali national Mustafa Aseyr Ahmed 27, who told the court that he had only held a job for one week in Malta, were arraigned before mag- istrate Yana Micallef Stafrace, accused of aggravated theft of a mobile phone in St. Julians on 9 October, as well as violently resisting four police, slightly injuring two of them. Ahmed was also charged with recidivism, while Gebrecharikos was further charged with damaging government property and breaching a suspended sentence. In the dock today, Gebrecharikos was highly assertive, his body language just sort of aggressive, frequently interrupting the sitting with outbursts. Prosecuting police inspector Clinton Theuma told the court how yesterday the police had received a phone call, reporting the theft of a phone by "two African men." From the dock Gebrecharikos shouted ob- jections at being described in that way in the report. "One of the men stole the phone from an Italian man and ran away, together with another person," the Inspector said, adding that the victim had given police a perfect description of what the thieves had been wearing. While officers were on their way to the spot, the police station had received an- other report of an argument in the same area. The police scoured the area, spotting Gebrecharikos and called him over. When the officers explained why he was being stopped, the man became aggressive and then started walking away, necessitating his being restrained, he said. Two officers were injured while restrain- ing the man. The inspector told the court that Gebre- charikos had also lashed out and kicked a police car, causing €950 to €1,000 worth of damage to the vehicle's side. He was subsequently taken to the police station, where he claimed not to remember what he had done. Meanwhile, another team of police of- ficers found Mustafa near Havana, he said. "He fit the description exactly." Mustafa also tried to leave and refused to speak to the police, even though they explained that he was suspected of having stolen the phone. He, too, had to be restrained and injured another officer during the ensuing scuffle. The prosecution and defence briefly dis- cussed the case privately with the magis- trate before returning to their places in the courtroom. Defence lawyer Brandon Kirk Muscat informed the magistrate the pair were pleading not guilty. At that point Gebre- charikos started waving his arms around and saying that the allegations were false. "That's why you're pleading not guilty" re- plied the magistrate. Bail was not requested at this stage. Mustafa also loudly addressed the mag- istrate, complaining that the police had all his belongings and that he needed to use his mobile phone. He was escorted out of the courtroom, his loud protestations continuing outside. Two charged with theft, assaulting police officers in Paceville One of the accused lashed out and kicked a police car, causing €950 to €1,000 worth of damage to the vehicle's side KURT SANSONE KEEPING energy prices stable will continue being a corner- stone of government's economic policy, the Prime Minister told representatives of the catering industry. In a meeting with the Asso- ciation of Catering Establish- ments (ACE), Robert Abela said energy stability was cru- cial to fight inflation. He was leading a government delegation that included Tour- ism Minister Clayton Bartolo, Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul and Labour backbencher Omar Farrugia during a pre- budget consultation meeting. "The government will con- tinue to support businesses and families by maintaining its policy of price stability in the energy sector… it is important this support does not stop if we want to fight inflation," Abela said. Government has for the past two years subsidised the pric- es of electricity, fuel, gas and cereals in a bid to stave off in- flation. More than €300 million were spent to keep prices sta- ble over the past year. Abela added that tourism fig- ures showed increases, point- ing towards a strong recovery after the pandemic. Howev- er, Abela insisted more work had to be done to improve the quality in tourism. "We have to find a balance be- tween quantity and quality to ensure a sector that is sustain- able," he said. "We also have to improve the skills among tour- ism workers… we also have to ensure that foreign workers, where they are truly needed, should be better skilled." The meeting with ACE is part of a series of consultation meetings the Prime Minister is having in the run up to the budget, which will be present- ed on 30 October. Energy price stability crucial to fight inflation, Abela says