Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534195
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 APRIL 2025 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt THE residential property price index (RPPI) at the end of 2024 jumped 5% when compared to the previous year. The National Statistics Office (NSO) said on Tuesday that at the end of 2024, the RPPI stood at 165.22. The RPPI is an index which measures the rate at which prices of residential proper- ties are changing over time. Only residential properties purchased by households are covered by the RPPI. The figures published by the NSO indicate that property prices increased by 5% when compared to the same quarter in the previous year. In 2024, the Housing Author- ity published a study on the af- fordability of properties. Among its findings, the study shows that from 2000 to 2022, mortgage interest rates in Malta fell from 6.5% to 2.8%, theoretically easing the cost of borrowing. However, this reduction in rates did not sufficiently offset the rapid increase in property prices, leading to a net decline in affordability . Among the possible factors driving up prices are economic growth, population increases, and foreign investment in Mal- ta's real estate market. Mean- while, income growth has not kept pace with these rising costs. House prices up 5% between 2023 and 2024 The RPPI is an index which measures the rate at which residential property prices change A 47-year-old man pleaded not guilty to assaulting and slightly injuring a police ser- geant and constable during football promotion celebra- tions on Saturday. On Monday, Jerry Ghigo who resides in Mqabba, was arraigned before Magistrate Charmaine Grima, and was charged with insulting and threatening police officers, disobeying police orders, dam- aging a police motorcycle, the police man's uniform and be- ing drunk in public. Inspector Andrew Agius Bonello, who is prosecuting, told the court that police ser- geant Luke Grima was driving towards Ta' Kandja when he came across a party on a truck. The celebrations were being held after Mqabba FC secured promotion to National Ama- teur League 1. The officer stopped the truck, and soon after an argu- ment arose between those cel- ebrating, and the officer. The court heard the officer also sought backup. The inspector testified that the situation was calmed down, before the argument was re-ignited. He said the police sergeant saw the accused, Jerry Ghigo, knocking the officer's vehicle to the ground. Representing the accused, lawyer Franco Debono told the court that his team had video footage showing the police of- ficer "dragging" the man along the ground while still wearing his crash helmet. The police officer followed the accused into the crowd to arrest him and read him his rights, but Ghigo resisted him, the court heard. It also emerged in court that when the accused alleged- ly knocked the vehicle to the ground, a body cam on the police officer was focused on another area. Debono said his client im- mediately denied pushing the motorcycle, a claim confirmed by the prosecuting inspector, who added that the man main- tained his innocence. The defence lawyer said the sergeant grabbed the man and dragged him to the ground, with both eventually falling. Agius Bonello said the ser- geant "put him down", but noted that he was not present at the scene when the incident occurred. Bail was requested by the de- fence. The prosecution objected to the accused being granted bail, saying investigations were still ongoing, and not everyone involved in the incident had been identified. Debono rejected the argu- ments, saying his client had been celebrating Mqabba's promotion when the police stopped them. "Someone decided it was our client who knocked over the motorcycle, and he protested his innocence," Debono em- phasised. The court granted the man bail, set at a €5,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guar- antee. He was ordered to sign the bail book once a week. The accused has been barred from visiting Mqabba FC premises and cannot watch the club train or play. Police inspector Andrew Agius Bonello prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit assisted the accused. Man charged with assaulting police officer during Mqabba FC promotion celebrations Man charged with assaulting police officer during Mqabba FC promotion celebrations Footage on social media shows the police officer trying to arrest the man as people watch the incident unfold