Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533191
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 12 MARCH 2025 • ISSUE 931 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Labour MEP asks where money for increased defence spending will come from Labour MEP Thomas Bajada questions whether increased defence spending by the EU will result in funds being diverted away from cohesion and social funds PAGE 5 MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt AFM drug heist: Thieves were at the scene for two hours unnoticed THE alleged thieves behind the drug heist from the AFM Safi barracks en- tered the container filled with seized cannabis three times in a two-hour heist, a court has heard. The compilation of evidence against the six individuals charged in connec- tion with the robbery began on Tues- day morning before Magistrate Elaine Rizzo. Sean Attard, from Żebbuġ, Carlos Pace from Marsa, Yousef Essesi from St Paul's Bay, and Cleaven Pace, from Mar- sa who were arraigned on 26 February have pled not guilty to charges brought against them. Carlos and Cleaven Pace are brothers. Charges they face include theft, drug trafficking, possession of stolen sub- stances, and recidivism. Carlos Pace is also facing charges of breaching bail conditions. PAGE 3 WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 22 JANUARY 2025 • ISSUE 924 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Variable interest rate of 2.80% * Low contribution Low collateral requirements *Business Lending Bank Base Rate presently at 2.15%, Interest Margin and EIF Guarantee Fee. The BOV SME Grow and the BOV SME Grow Green are funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund with the financial backing of the Republic of Malta under the InvestEU Member State Compartment for Malta. All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, il-Belt Valletta, VLT 1130. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licenced to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the laws of Malta). Grow green BOV SME Supporting Your Vision CONTACT US JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Staircase, ramp and bathing platform in latest Vecca plans Veċċa project aimed at protecting cave and overlying road from collapse PAGE 5 Court rules that law allowing conversion of court expenses into jail, breaches human rights THE Constitutional Court has ruled that a legal provision giving the Court Reg- istrar unfettered discretion to convert court expenses into jail term breaches human rights. The landmark judgment was deliv- ered by Mr Justice Ian Spiteri Bailey in a case instituted by a prison inmate, who is serving a four-year jail term. Fernando Gonzalo-Noel Sanchez had filed proceedings in front of the First Hall of the Civil Court in its con- stitutional jurisdiction in 2023, chal- lenging the legal provision that allows unpaid court expenses to be translated into jail time. Sanchez had been sentenced to four years in prison in October 2022 after admitting to injuring several people and resisting arrest when under the influence of drugs. He had also been ordered to pay court expenses, which totalled €23,000 according to a bill drawn up by the Court Registrar. PAGE 5 A bathing platform, a staircase, and a ramp have been added to plans for the shoring up of the cliff-face at Għar Tal-Veċċa in St Paul's Bay. The project includes a revetment composed of boulders to protect the friable cliff-face from further coastal erosion and prevent the col- lapse of Triq Stella Maris. Thomas Bajada The compilation of evidence in the case of the suspects behind the AFM drug heist began on Tuesday • Police testify that 136kg of cannabis resin was stolen, not 226kg as the police had stated in February Accused being escorted to Corradino Correctional Facility from the Valletta law courts (Photos: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)