Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544052
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2026 NEWS MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Court rejects Sigmund Mifsud's request to testify again in evidence tampering case FORMER Malta Philarmon- ic Orchestra CEO Sigmund Mifsud was denied permission to testify again in proceedings related to a sexual harassment case within the orchestra. He is charged with tampering with evidence, abuse of power and obstruction of justice in connection with the case. During Tuesday's sitting, the defence requested Mifsud be allowed to take the witness stand again in order to clarify aspects of his relationship with the alleged victim, as well as his relationship with a former male employee who had ad- mitted to harassing the same woman and was subsequently found guilty. The request was jointly op- posed by both the prosecution and the parte civile, who ar- gued that Mifsud had already testified in earlier proceedings, had been cross-examined ex- tensively, and that other de- fence witnesses had also testi- fied after him. In its decree, the court noted the issues which the accused now wished to address had al- ready been dealt with during previous sittings. It further held that the ac- cused could not be allowed to testify again to respond to mat- ters that may have emerged from evidence given after his earlier testimony. The court also observed that such a course of action was not permissible at law and there- fore rejected the defence re- quest. Two other witnesses were due to testify but failed to ap- pear in court. With no further evidence to be presented by the defence, the case was adjourned for sub- missions to 18 May at 10:45am. The prosecution was led by Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Ga- briel Micallef. Mifsud is being represented by lawyers Ed- ward Gatt, Mark Vassallo, and Shaun Zammit. Lawyer Rober- to Spiteri appeared parte civile. Magistrate Gabriella Vella presided over the case. Sigmund Mifsud C O N T I N U E S F R O M P A G E 1 Lands Authority CEO Rob- ert Vella explained how the entity he heads arrived at the pricetag for the concession. He said the procedure is dif- ferent to a valuation, where the value of a land is estimat- ed by the authority. Since the concession was being partially terminated, MIDI presented a list of ex- penses incurred while the concession was in force to be imbursed by the government. The Lands Authority was in charge of verifying the ex- penses presented against in- voices and proof of payment. Nationalist MP Darren Car- abott asked for clarifications on possible structural defi- ciencies and personal rights. Vella said that if there were any latent defects at the time of sale in 2005, and they were never resolved, those defects will be there today and be the government's responsibility. He said that there had been an agreement between MIDI and Enemalta for an elec- tricity distribution centre to be set up on the island. That agreement will remain in place but will be the govern- ment's responsibilities. There had also been discus- sions to replace a zone on the island with a football ground. He said the government will continue discussions with the football association on this matter. Nationalist MP Stanley Zammit asked about pending payment obligations and ser- vitude. Vella said anything that has not been paid for at the time of the contract is not being taken into account in the agreement. He also said there are parts of the agreement concern- ing servitude at Fort Tigne. There is a temporary agree- ment in place making sure that views from apartments in the Tigne area are not ob- structed. "Technically, until the em- phyteusis expires, we can't build, say, an apartment block at Fort Tigne," he said. Parliament backs partial termination of Manoel Island, Fort Tigné concessions Manoel Island (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)