Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/187071
21 Opinion maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2013 t I'd much prefer solid evidence how, exactly, does that even begin to answer the question? What light does it shed on Busuttil's 'moral convictions' regarding the former police commissioner's unaccountable decision NOT to take action for four whole months, when both he and the Attorney General (according to Rizzo's testimony, anyway) agreed that action should be taken? The same question assumes greater significance in light of the fact that the police did take action against one of the people alluded to in the OLAF report: Silvio Zammit. I find it profoundly disquieting that John Rizzo would publicly admit that he himself felt he should also have arraigned Dalli, but didn't… at a time when he had no qualms arresting the less prominent and 'important' of the suspects in question. So far the only answers have been supplied by neither Busuttil, who is making the allegation, nor Rizzo, whose testimony sparkled all this off – but by ordinary Nationalists on Facebook... and I need hardly say that they have all to date been deeply unsatisfactory. We were told that the Police Commissioner's hands were tied because of Dalli's health condition. And yet I know of several cases where people were arrested regardless of health problems. I have even heard of individuals who overdosed on heroin, who were brought back from the very threshold of death by doctors at the local hospital… only to find themselves handcuffed in their hospital bed with the police waiting to cart them off to the Floriana depot. And yes, it is true that health issues can sometimes result in complications at trial stage. There may be delays, and in some cases even acquittals based on health considerations (e.g., suspect in hospital, deemed unfit to stand trial, and all that). But those considerations do not affect the police's decision to press charges against an individual suspect in the first place. They only affect the way the case subsequently unfolds in court. Seeing as what we are ultimately talking about here is a possible case of double standards within the Maltese justice system – how some animals are clearly more equal than others when it comes things as the police deciding to press charges – the general public has a clear and direct interest in knowing exactly why the police chose to charge Zammit but not Dalli… more so when its own former police commissioner testifies in court that he himself believed that others should also have been arrested. Given the seriousness of the implications – I believe the word for this is discrimination, and it is usually considered grounds for a mistrial – I for one am simply "I am morally convinced there was interference in this case" – Jason Azzopardi, 2013 flabbergasted that Busuttil would first fire off such a damning accusation, and then not only fail to substantiate it in any way… but also refuse to even address the many imponderables within his own statements. Meanwhile I have to admit that my expectations of Busuttil as leader were not exactly vertiginous, given his performance in the election campaign. But that he would kickstart his career by echoing Alfred Sant on moral convictions (of all things)...? Honestly, I wouldn't have expected it in a million years. CHECK OUT RAPHAEL VASSALLO'S LATEST COLUMNS ON http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogs Linda Briggs in Malta Cosmetic surgery in Malta All cosmetic surgery procedures available. Ask for details of visiting specialist surgeons offering the latest techniques – regular visits to Malta. Visiting yacht owners can take advantage of the on board services for botox and dermal fillers. Just call Linda and it can be arranged. Contact Linda with your enquiry or view the web site for prices To book a consultation ® Ltd