Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534195
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 APRIL 2025 NEWS MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In the previous sitting, defence lawyer Vincent Galea, presented a note in the Criminal Court re- questing that all other 26 experts involved testify. The note was presented to the court with regards to all the ac- cused, not just former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Galea told the court that since Harbinson and Vincent Bradley are showing no interest in testi- fying, it is necessary for the other 26 experts to be testify. Andrew Robert Coles testified via video conference on Tues- day. The court heard how he was involved in the publication of the magisterial inquiry re- port, which was concluded by court-appointed expert Jeremy Harbinson. The court had based its freezing orders against the ac- cused on the report. At the start of the sitting, the courtroom experienced several technical problems and the wit- ness was delayed in testifying. After the issue was finally fixed, the video connection was being constantly cut off and the witness disappeared from the screen several times. Defence lawyers were suspicious of this and lawyer Vincent Galea asked Coles to confirm if he was alone in the room. Expert does not recall swearing under oath on inquiry report During proceedings, defence lawyer Stefano Filletti asked Coles whether he swore under oath in his involvement in the report. "I do not recall," he re- plied. In response to this, defence lawyer Franco Debono pointed out that a certain page of the in- quiry report clearly stated that Coles had sworn upon oath, spe- cifically, "on the bible" and that this oath was administered by the inquiring magistrate. Debono emphasised that this was clearly contradicting to the witnesses' statement. When questioned again on the matter, he stuck to the fact that he could not remember. Debono told the witness that these events happened less than a year ago, therefore he should have no problem in remember- ing facts. In an effort to clear out the mat- ter, Madam Justice Grima firmly asked him: "Did you swear under oath on the report published?" and the witness once again con- firmed that he had no recollec- tion of the event whatsoever. However, the document referred to in court by lawyer Franco Debono, clearly stated otherwise. Expert insists he had no say on final report Asked on his previous work, Coles said he had been a detec- tive constable for the past 14 years in the UK. He told the court that he was sub-contracted by Harbinsons Forensics Ltd and that Jeremy Harbinson had contacted him directly. Harbinson's Forensics Ltd paid him for his services through another company. In the report, Harbinson stat- ed the work of the witness was conducted under his supervi- sion, which Coles confirmed. The witness told the court that the person which truly needs to be contacted in relation to the report is Harbinson, a comment to which the defence lawyers laughed sarcastically. When questioned about his role in the report, Coles said that yet another court expert, Samuel Sittlington, had ap- proached him and tasked him to investigate corruption in the government arrangements linked to the vitals case. Defence lawyer Vincent Galea asked Coles about his involve- ment in the conclusion of the specific amount of the €30 mil- lion freezing order of former prime minister, Joseph Muscat. He replied that he was not aware of how the sum was cal- culated, or who was involved in the final decision. Andrew Roberts Coles further told the court that he was only involved the early drafts in the compilation of the report. He was clear in saying that he was not involved in the outcome of the final report but later admit- ted to seeing it. Defence lawyer Franco Debono questioned the wit- ness in relation to the €20 mil- lion freezing orders issued for defendants Jean Farrugia and Kevin Deguara. He replied that he also was not involved in cal- culating the freezing orders. When questioned by defence lawyer Giannella DeMarco: "Did you come up with any of the amounts of the freezing of assets?" He replied in the neg- ative. When first questioned, the witness confirmed that he nev- er came to Malta in connection with the Vitals case. However, it was heard that the witness did indeed come to Malta in rela- tion to another investigation, but not in connection to the Vi- tals case. Despite this, the witness lat- er confirmed that court expert Samuel Sittlington, had in- structed Coles to accompany him in the search of Muscat's residence, while he was in Mal- ta assisting in a separate inves- tigation. The sitting was adjourned to 16 July. Former prime minister Joseph Muscat is being represented by lawyers Vincent Galea, Luke Dalli, Ishmael Psaila, Charlon Gouder, and Etienne Borg Fer- ranti. Former minister Konrad Mizzi and former chief of staff Keith Schembri are being represented by lawyers Edward Gatt, Mark Vassallo, and Shaun Zammit. Lawyers Gianella De Marco and Charles Mercieca are repre- senting David J Meli and Mario Gatt. Lawyer Stefano Filletti and Franco Debono are represent- ing Alfred Camilleri, Jean Far- rugia and Kevin Deguara. Expert confirms he was subcontracted by Jeremy Harbinson to work on investigation into hospitals concession A 28-year-old man has been re- manded in custody after plead- ing not guilty to trafficking cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and MDMA. Gomez was also charged with aggravated posses- sion of the four drugs. Colombian national Manuel Felipe Gomez was arrested af- ter the police discovered pho- tos and messages stored in his mobile phone which displayed a "cocktail" of drugs. Inspector John Leigh Howard explained how on 6 April, police officers from the Sliema police station informed him of a mobile phone which was unlocked. The officers went through the device in order to identify its owner and in doing so, they came across several saved photos of drugs. Amongst the photos, the po- lice also found images of the accused's residence permit and passport, from which the ac- cused was identified and was later arrested at his Msida resi- dence. During a search of his res- idence, the police found 150 sachets containing a variety of drugs, including cocaine, canna- bis, ketamine and MDMA. The court accepted the pros- ecution's request for a freezing order of his assets. The defence did not request bail. The court was presided over by Astrid May Grima. The prosecution was led by In- spector John Leigh Howard to- gether Attorney General Lawyer Ylenia-Marie Abela. The accused was represented by legal aid lawyer Axel Camill- eri. Police search lost unlocked phone to identify owner and discover he trafficked drugs Various freezing orders related to the hospitals concession are being challenged