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6 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 JANUARY 2014 Right-winger defamed as 'Breivik mentor' gets €5,000 in damages English Defence League activist who was in touch with mass murderer Anders Breivik is fined €5,000 for defaming EDL activist as mentor to the Norwegian killer CHRIS MANGION A British far-right activist, Paul Adam Cinato, has been ordered to pay €5,000 in damages to a UK national after publishing three articles in his personal blog in 2012, which were deemed defamatory by the Maltese courts. Cinato – also known as Paul Ray – is a former activist of the anti-Islamic organisation English Defence League, who acquired notoriety in the aftermath of Anders Breivik's massacre in Norway. Cinato claimed he had been in contact with Breivik before his attacks on the Norwegian capital and his massacre of 77 teenagers and adults on the island of Utoya. He was described as Breivik's 'mentor' in the international press, after the Englishman's pseudonym was mentioned in the assassin's 1,500-page manifesto. Breivik said that in 2002 he attended a meeting to set up a Templar organisation in London, where he was assigned a "mentor" codenamed Richard (the Lionhearted). Magistrate Francesco Depasquale today heard how Cinato, whose last known address was Marsaxlokk, publishes a blog under the pseudonym Lionheart. In April and May of 2012, three of his articles attacked English national Alan Derek Ayling, who in the past has denied allegations he is the financier of the English Defence League. Ayling allegedly met Cinato in England to discuss the UK's political situation. Ayling is also known by his blogging pseudonym Alan Lake, and is considered a central figure in organising international anti-Islamist contacts. In October 2011, Norwegian police formally investigated Lake to discover any potential ideological influence Lake may have had on mass murderer Anders Breivik. In January 2012, after the identity of 'Alan Lake' came out as Alan Ay- Paul Adam Cinato ling, Ayling was suspended from his management post at a development bank in the City of London. Using the name Lionheart, Cinato published three articles titled 'Alan Lake – Food for thought'; 'Alan Lake – A profile', and 'A successful coup in Norway or a Marxist Dictatorship'. His writings alleged that the plaintiff was the mentor of Andres Breivik, and that he had stopped Ayling from becoming the leader of the English Defence League. While the blogger never appeared in court, plaintiff Alan Derek Ayling took the witness stand and confirmed he had met 'the Lionheart' multiple times in the UK to discuss politics. The meetings included other people. However the rest of the allegations were fabrications and lies. He argued the articles were defamatory and libellous and had a serious negative effect on his life. Under oath, Ayling told the court the allegations destroyed his marriage and that he was forced to quit his job as a database manager at the Alan Derek Ayling European Bank for Resources and Development. "Wherever I travel I'm haunted by L i o n h e a r t 's a l l e g a t i o n s ," he told the court. On his part, Cinato never attended court and showed no interest in voicing his defence. The Court said there was no reason to doubt Ayling's version of events, and found Cinato guilty of publishing defamatory articles and ordered him to pay €5,000 in damages to Alan Derek Ayling. Lawyer Malcom Mifsud appeared on the plaintiff's behalf. Anders Breivik Court again calls for regulations for lap dancing clubs Magistrate acquits club managers of charges of running a brothel and calls for the immediate enactment of legislation to regulate lap dancing clubs CHRIS MANGION TWO men involved in the running of a gentleman's club in Paceville were acquitted of running a brothel when a court ruled that an immoral act does not necessarily constitute a criminal offence. Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras again called for regulations to be imposed on the so called 'gentlemen's clubs' industry. Joseph Zammit, 38, of Pietà and Duncan Fenech, 36, of Attard, were charged with running a brothel at Private Gentleman's club in Paceville. In October 2011, Police Superintendent Stephen Gatt, formerly in charge of the St Julian's District, raided the club where employee Daniela Dinu was found naked and straddled over a patron. Parton Reno Zammit told the court that he had gone to the club with two friends, and that he was approached by a woman inviting him to a private dance during which she would remove her bra. Zammit accepted, gave her €50 and went behind a curtain. Moments after the dancer took off her bra, the police interrupted the entertainment. Dinu took the witness stand, saying she was employed by Private as a dancer. She had already performed two table-top dances for the same patron prior to being arrested. "I was trying to get him to pay for a third dance so I opened my bra and showed him my breasts. At this point the police cut my dance short, but I still had my bra on," she said. The witness said the club's management had never given her any rules or guidelines for her performances and her actions were based on her own decisions. "No one, not even the two accused, ever forced me to do anything and I decided to open my bra because I wanted to. I am not a prostitute and never performed paid to have sex inside the club." Dinu stated she was self-employed, but contracted by the accused Duncan Fenech, however had never seen co-accused Joseph Zammit. The club had a door policy only allowing persons over 21 years of age inside. The owners said their security personnel ensured the age restric- tion is followed at the door. The warning was shown at the door and on every beverage list inside the establishment. Club staff guaranteed the dancer's safety and no touching was allowed during performances, whether private or on stage. Patrons pay around €20, which is equally shared by the dancer and the management. Taking the witness stand, Duncan Fenech confirmed he was the club's manager and was inside the club during the police check. Another two men, Douglas Axisa and Mario Spiteri, helped in the running of the club. Fenech corroborated the dancer's version, saying she was selfemployed and had a valid work permit. This was also confirmed by an ETC representative. The court was informed by an MTA officer that the substitute operators of Private Gentlemen's Club were Anthony Borg, Mark Bugeja, Joseph Zammit, Mario Azzopardi, Dustin Caruana and Jacqueline Camilleri. Quoting previous cases, Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras said today's society permits such realities which have become part of life, however this does not mean immoral acts have become moral. "While a woman provocatively modelling with barely any clothes on, cannot be seen as moral, the club had a strict door policy and only those over 21 could enter the premises fully aware of what to expect inside." Furthermore, the court held an immoral act does not necessarily constitute a criminal or illegal offence, but legislation should be immediately enacted to adequately regulate the industry and protect people from abuse and exploitation. Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted while lawyers Joseph Giglio, Shaheryar Ghaznavi and Robert Galea appeared for the accused.

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