Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532146
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 FEBRUARY 2025 2 THOMAS CILIA tcilia@mediatoday.com.mt THE Courts demonstrated prej- udice towards Robert Aquilina, with it being more concerned with conducting a witch hunt against him, lawyer Jason Azz- opardi argued in court on Tues- day. Oral submissions related to an appeal lodged by civil soci- ety NGO Repubblika following the rejection by a Magistrates Court on a request that Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa be ordered to institute crimi- nal action against Pilatus Bank officials were heard by an Ap- peals Court on Tuesday morn- ing. Azzopardi continued by stat- ing that although the judgment of the Court makes various ref- erences to hearsay, not one ex- ample was provided. Repubblika had initiated chal- lenge proceedings in 2022, re- questing the courts to order that Pilatus Bank officials be prosecuted by the Police Com- missioner following the con- clusion of a magisterial inquiry which found evidence of crimes including money laundering. The request, however, was turned down. The Court had noted that a lot of speculation and hearsay resulted, inasmuch as the ma- jority of Aquilina's testimony in the given proceedings was based on what he was being told by various officials who were not indicated. It was held that the vague manner in which declarations were made by the witness meant that the Court was not presented with clear, direct, and unequivocal proof. Facts which were being pre- sented were based on what Aquilina had heard from the media, or on sources which, ac- cording to the Court, were not subject to control and could be subject to selective interpreta- tion. It had also been noted, amongst other things, that the claims put forward in the ap- plication regarding offences contemplated by the Preven- tion of Money Laundering Act could not be decided upon by the Court in terms of the law on challenge proceedings. In the same judgment, it was also ordered that a copy of all witness testimony and ev- idence exhibited during the proceedings be sent to the Po- lice Commissioner to immedi- ately institute an investigation into how direct physical access to the inquiry was provided to third parties, including Aqui- lina who had stated variously that the inquiry was shown to him in its original state and that he had no legal authority to do so at the time. Repubblika swiftly slammed the Court ruling, with Notary Robert Aquilina stating that an appeal would be lodged and that "we can never agree with a ruling that allows the Police Commissioner to disobey the order of another magistrate". Oral submissions following the lodging of the appeal were made by the parties in a one- hour sitting held this morning. Lawyer Jason Azzopardi, ap- pearing for the NGO, initial- ly made reference to the facts giving rise to the case at hand. He briefly stated that a magis- terial inquiry was concluded in 2021, with a 'noticia criminis' being lodged in January 2022. No response by the Commis- sioner of Police was provided, with a reminder being sent a few months later. Inasmuch as no feedback was given, the challenge application was filed in 2022. Extensive references to var- ious grounds of appeal were then made, with Azzopardi firstly stating that the Court reached the conclusion that insufficient evidence to prove a prima facie case was put for- ward notwithstanding the fact that Repubblika had in its fa- vour the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry pertain- ing to the operation of Pilatus Bank. Lawyer Ramon Bonnett Slad- den from the Office of the At- torney General put forward a number of counter-argu- ments, stating, amongst other things, that the Commissioner of Police could never accede to that which was requested in the challenge proceedings inasmuch as the offence of money laundering may only be prosecuted by the Attorney General. PILATUS BANK APPEAL Azzopardi argues court demonstrated prejudice towards Robert Aquilina Lawyer Jason Azzopardi argues court was more interested in conducting witch hunt against Robert Aquilina than reviewing facts Former Repubblika president Robert Aquilina (left) and the NGO's lawyer Jason Azzopardi (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) A man suffered grievous inju- ries on Monday after he was hit by a car in Paola. The police said the accident happened at around 7pm in Triq il-Palma. Preliminary in- vestigations showed the vic- tim, a 68-year-old from Paola, was hit by a Renault Clio driv- en by a 44-year-old from the same locality. The victim was administered first aid at the site of the acci- dent, before he was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified for his injuries. Police investigations are on- going. Man grievously injured after getting hit by car in Paola IN MEMORIAM 5th February 2025 de Giorgio Roger On the ninth anniversary of his passing away. Fondly remembered and deeply missed, by his wife Marica, Nick and Tita, Pat and Michel, Roger and Josianne, Michael and Marianne, John and Monique, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lord, grant him eternal rest.