Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535788
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 MAY 2025 NEWS Activists behind Manoel Island campaign slam Abela for repeating MIDI's rhetoric In a joint statement, the groups behind the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign describe Abela's stance on the matter as 'misinformed' and 'lacking in public benefit and legal respect' ACTIVISTS and NGOs have blasted Prime Minister Robert Abela's tepid response to the 29,000-strong petition calling for Manoel Island to become a na- tional park. In a joint statement, the groups behind the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign described Abela's stance on the matter as "misinformed" and "lacking in public benefit and legal respect." On Monday, Abela claimed that government does not have the mandate to fork out millions in taxpayer money to rescind a contract that gave Manoel Island to MIDI plc in 2000. According to activists, Abe- la repeated arguments close- ly aligned with those of MIDI, arguing that Abela's response failed to acknowledge key ele- ments of MIDI's contract with the government. They pointed to how the agree- ment includes a clause requiring the substantial completion of the Manoel Island project by March 2026. If this deadline is not met, the government has the legal right to revoke the entire conces- sion. The activists claimed that there are "covert negotiations current- ly underway between the govern- ment and MIDI to extend this deadline by around 10 years." They slammed Abela's attitude when he claimed that getting Manoel Island back would be "difficult," adding, "With that at- titude, Malta would still be under the rule of feudal lord Gonsalvo Monroy." They also noted that while Ab- ela stated the concession was granted under a PN administra- tion, the deal had been approved unanimously in Parliament. While recognising the impor- tance of honouring contracts, campaigners stressed that both parties must uphold their obli- gations. Supporters of the campaign say the growing public support gives the Prime Minister a clear man- date to enter negotiations with MIDI to reclaim the site for the public good. "With regard to concerns about the cost, it is perhaps worth re- membering that even Monroy eventually waived part of the sum he was due to receive from the Maltese," the activists con- cluded. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Manoel Island (File photo) Two pickpockets jailed nine months each following admission TWO Romanian nationals, 53-year-old Daniel Maftei and 39-year-old Lucian-Ionut Ser- ban, plead guilty to commit- ting pickpocketing on several instances on Tuesday before Magistrate Elaine Rizzo. Prosecuting Inspector Sarah Magri explained that the in- vestigation behind the cases kicked off in 2023. CCTV footage revealed a certain man pickpocketing and subsequent investigations identified Daniel Matvei as the man in the footage. Matvei was not in Malta however the police were alerted of his re- turn and an arrest warrant was issued. An analysis of CCTV foot- age revealed further instances of pickpocketing, involving other suspects, one being Ser- ban. The two men were subse- quently arrested. The pair pickpocketed from two individuals in Rabat and an additional three persons in Marsaxlokk. Maftei was also accused of theft from an individual near a bus stop in Rabat in 2023. Both men were also charged with recidivism as they had already been found guilty of previous pickpocketing instances. After their admission, Mag- istrate Rizzo, warned them of the possible punishment which the would incur effec- tive imprisonment. She gave them some additional time to consult with their lawyers and rethink their plea but the pair confirmed their admission be- fore the court. Prosecutors and defence lawyers made their submis- sions on the punishment to be awarded, requesting a sen- tence of nine months effective imprisonment. The prosecu- tion also requested the resti- tution of the stolen items to victims involved. Thus, the court upheld the plea, found Maftei and Serv- an guilty and jailed them for 9 months each. Regarding the restitution request, the court dismissed the request due to insufficient evidence. Police inspectors Sarah Magri and Andrew Agius prosecuted. Defence Lawyer Lennox Vel- la assisted Maftei and legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted Serban.