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8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS Court expert behind delay in Caruana Galizia murder leak investigation, Angelo Gafà says POLICE Commissioner Ange- lo Gafà has blamed delays in the investigation of leaks related to Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder on a court-appointed expert, who has not completed his work. Gafà was speaking to Andrew Azzopardi on Campus FM on Saturday, where he explained that the police have been waiting for five years for an unnamed expert to analyse data from a suspect's mobile phone. The device was seized in 2021, but the expert has yet to provide the requested information. Several people were charged over suspicions that they disclosed confidential information concern- ing the investigation into Caruana Galizia's assassination in 2017. Those charged include business- man Yorgen Fenech and former OPM chief of staff Keith Schem- bri. They deny wrongdoing al- though in Fenech's murder trial, both admitted under oath that they received and passed on in- formation relating to the murder investigation. Gafa was disappointed over the criticism levelled against police for the delay. He defended the police's investigative record, insisting that allegations are treated seriously regardless of criticism. He stated that no inquiry into police failures to investigate alle- gations had been initiated during his tenure as commissioner. The commissioner also noted that investigations into Caruana Galizia's murder remain ongoing. He referred to statements made by prosecutors during Fenech's trial earlier this year, when jurors were informed that the case had not been closed. Gafa also advocated for a review of Malta's jury system. He ques- tioned whether ordinary people can reasonably be expected to un- derstand complex legal concepts, such as complicity, without the legal training required of qualified lawyers. He suggested that one possible reform would be to require jurors to provide explanations for the reasoning behind their decisions, something the justice minister had also spoken in favour of in the wake of the second high-pro- file murder acquittal in 2026 a few weeks ago. Police Commissioner Angelo spoke about the case on Campus FM Malta's traditional mazzit gains EU recognition AFTER years of work, Malta's traditional mazzit gained pro- tection and recognition from the European Union. The step follows a decision by the European Commission to approve its registration as a Protected Geographical Indi- cator, meaning that mazzit will join other EU products whose names are protected because of their geographical origin. Mazzit is a traditional Maltese blood sausage made from un- coagulated blood from pigs or young bovines, which is then mixed with onions, raisins, sug- ar, cocoa power or liquid choc- olate, and sweet spices like cin- namon and cloves. The mixture is then encased in natural swine or bovine intestines, giving it a sausage-like shape. The recipe dates back to at least the mid-18th century, and even became the star of the Maltese proverb: "Fl-aħħar tal-mazzita ssib iż-żbiba" (At the end of the mazzit, you'll find the raisin). After Malta joined the EU in 2004, strict sanitary regulations temporarily caused tradition- al mazzit production to vanish from small butcher shops. Now, after several years of efforts, the EU has recognised mazzit as a part of Malta's food heritage. Government explained that the work involved investment into machinery designed for the hygienic collection and pro- cessing of blood, as well as in a specialised production facility. It also undertook historical re- search into the product, the de- velopment of its specifications, the documentation of recipes and production traditions, the engagement of producers and processors, and the establish- ment of the Mazzit Stakehold- ers Group. Food Minister Anton Refalo described the recognition as "much more than a mere Euro- pean quality label," explaining that it acknowledges that Mal- ta's agricultural and culinary heritage possesses value worthy of protection and a future de- serving of investment. Public Abattoir General Director Ste- fan Cachia said the recognition comes after a long-term initia- tive by the organisation, which allowed a traditional product which risked being lost to be rediscovered. Furthermore, Cachia said, the decision paves the way for the next phase which will trans- form mazzit into an economic opportunity for Malta. Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority Clive Tonna highlighted the authority's role in facilitating the registration process for mazzit while wel- coming the recognition of the product. He underlined that the de- velopment will enhance the value of traditional Maltese and Gozitan products and cre- ate creates new opportunities for local producers including greater visibility, competitive- ness, and economic potential. European Parliament Presi- dent and MEP Roberta Metsola welcomed the announcement as a significant step towards safeguarding Maltese tradi- tions. "This means that a product which has been part of Maltese cuisine for generations is now receiving protection at Europe- an level," she said. "This is how we continue to safeguard what makes us Maltese and Gozitan, while giving greater value to our traditional products." EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt Malta's traditional blood sausage, mazzit, has secured EU recognition following years of efforts to revive production and safeguard a centuries- old culinary tradition Mazzit is a traditional Maltese blood sausage (Photo: MAFF)