Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527558
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt 6 – 10 November MFCC – Ta' Qali #bindingworlds FREE ENTRANCE www.ktieb.org.mt @maltabookfestival Police ordered TM to give Jason Azzopardi reserved parking following risk assessment… it miffed Labour's Emanuel Cuschieri LABOUR propagandist Emanuel Cuschieri went all hot under the collar after he 'dis- covered' that Jason Azzopardi has a reserved parking spot in Sliema. In rebel-rousing comments on Facebook last Friday, Cuschieri took aim at the author- ities for affording the lawyer this privilege. But the truth is that it was the police that ordered Transport Malta to give Azzopardi a reserved parking spot after an assessment found he is a high-risk target. Sources with knowledge of the case said the risk assessment established that the lawyer was subject to a high threat level, leading the police to take several security measures. One of these measures was the reserved parking spot on the Sliema front where Az- zopardi lives. When contacted by MaltaToday, Azzopar- di confirmed the reserved parking spot was his and that it was a po- lice decision based on their secu- rity assessment. He refrained from commenting further. Cuschieri's comments, couched in his traditional questioning method that ended with the ral- lying cry, "we demand answers", prompted a barrage of vitriol- ic comments against TM and the government from Labour sympathisers. Cuschieri's tactics were denounced by former Repub- blika president Robert Aquilina. Cuschieri should ask "his friend [police com- missioner] Anglu Gafa", Aquilina hit back. "You have to be cruel and irresponsible to play around with people's security," Aquilina wrote, adding he expected Prime Minister Robert Abela to rein Cuschieri in. Azzopardi represents the family of mur- dered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as parte civile lawyer in criminal proceedings related to the assassination. Three hitmen have already been found guilty, while Yorgen Fenech is soon to stand trial on accusations that he masterminded the murder. Another two men have ongoing criminal proceedings against them on charges that they supplied the bomb that killed the jour- nalist. But Azzopardi has also fronted several cas- es in which corruption by former public offi- cials and politicians is alleged. He had drawn up Repubblika's indictment of the Vitals hospitals deal that kick-started the magiste- rial inquiry. The inquiry led to corruption charges be- ing filed against former prime minister Jo- seph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schem- bri and former minister Konrad Mizzi among others. Azzopardi recently obtained two magiste- rial inquiries into alleged corruption rackets at Identity Malta and the local enforcement agency, LESA. These investigations are on- going. But the self-styled anti-corruption crusad- er fell on his sword last week, when a mag- istrate found him guilty of defaming former minister Carmelo Abela and ordered him to pay libel damages. Azzopardi had claimed Abela was an accomplice in the HSBC heist of 2010, an allegation purportedly floated by one of the criminals involved in the case. Az- zopardi said he will appeal the decision. Recently, in an interview with Lovin Mal- ta, Azzopardi said he did fear for his life but vowed to continue his crusade against cor- ruption. Emanuel Cuschieri took aim at the authorities for giving Jason Azzopardi (inset) a reserved parking spot