Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/558086
6 MARTINA BORG CULTURE minister Owen Bonnici yesterday had a look at restoration works being carried out at Our La- dy of Miracles chapel in Lija, where efforts are being made to protect and preserve various structural features of the building. Restoration architect Jean Fren- do said that the chapel was built in 1660 and despite its simple structure, its popularity stemmed from its altarpiece, painted by the Calabrian Knight of Malta Mattia Preti. "The painting, which shows the Virgin and Child, had reportedly shed a tear in 1743 on the eve of a particularly strong earthquake, which miraculously left no fatali- ties or injuries," Frendo explained. Frendo said that restoration works had begun in February and inclement weather had caused de- lays in the works. "Most of the damage was due to natural causes," she said, explain- ing that the chapel was exposed to the elements and that much of the work had entailed the removal of a dark biological patina. She added that the restoration was limited to the outside of the chapel and that the area that needed most work was the southern facade. "There was also extensive dam- age caused by rusty iron handles and nails, which will all be replaced with stainless steel," she added. The project had initially started with the preparation of a plan of the building, which showed the damage the building had suffered. Minister Bonnici explained that the project showed that the safe- guarding and preservation of Mal- ta's cultural heritage should go well beyond Valletta and into the villag- es and towns across the island. He added that the directorate for restoration in charge of this project was also responsible for various other projects, including the restoration of the facade of St John's co-cathedral, as well as Dar 8 ta' Settembru in Birgu, among many others. Bonnici said that the restoration works were all in-house projects and that experts were all engaged by the public sector using public funds and materials. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2015 News NOTICE by the Electoral Commission The Electoral Commission notifies that: Sealed applications will be received by hand in the tender box at the Electoral Office, Evans Building, Triq il-Merkanti, Valletta, VLT 2000 up to 10:00 am of Tuesday 15th September 2015, for: Advert 1/15: Ballot Boxes to the Electoral Commission. Documents can be either downloaded from the Website www.electoral.gov.mt or collected from the Electoral Office, Evans Building, Triq il-Merkanti, Valletta, VLT 2000 (telephone number 25583100) from 08:00 am to 13:30 pm. Sammut granted bail against €15,000 guarantee CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 He point- ed to the accused when asked for the identity of the person they had dealt with, told the court that they had paid a €2,000 fee for his serv- ices and that the company had €100,000 as share capital, held as stock. Asked to elaborate, he said the fee was for setting up of the com- pany but not the capital, which was €100,000. Inspector Ferris asked him whether he had paid in cash, in kind, paid up share capi- tal or some other arrangement. "Cash," came the eventual reply. Two other witnesses, Fousi Ghait Elzeletni of Al Remal Ltd and Ab- dallah Meftah Bakeer, owner of Trusted Teams Ltd told a similar tale. Elzeletni explained that he need- ed to apply for a company to be set up in Malta to benefit from the advantages of the jurisdiction. He had handed the documents to a girl working in Sammut's office. Al Remal Ltd sold clothes, said the Libyan, who said he had been advised to set up a Maltese com- pany and had handed Sammut copies of his passport, insurance and a small photo for the registra- tion formalities. He told the court that there were three shareholders in Al Remal Ltd and each shareholder had paid €1,700 to Sammut. No receipt was given and the company was not operating, said the witness. "I am sorry the company is in crisis," he said. Bakeer, owner of Trusted Teams Ltd, testified last. He informed the court that the company is a con- struction materials supplier and that he also owns an electronics business and a car import com- pany in Libya. He said he had come to Malta to open a car import-export com- pany after the war in Libya made business impossible. "There is an office in Tripoli which cooperated with Malta. There is a person who works there who can incorporate Maltese companies. A certain Hassan runs this and his name is on the documents." The three shareholders had paid a total of €6,500 to the Tripoli of- fice. He told the court that he had received a receipt on mobile mes- saging application, Viber. The court imposed a freezing or- der on Sammut's assets. Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha requested that €13,976 be made available to the accused, as per law. Sciriha argued that a personal guarantee would be more effective in this case, as the freezing order was a guarantee in and of itself. Inspector Ferris did not object, noting that police bail had previ- ously been granted and the ac- cused had complied with the con- ditions. The prosecution did not object to bail as long as sufficient safe- guards were put in place. Sammut was granted bail, against a personal guarantee of €15,000 and ordered to sign a bail book three times a week. In view of the fact that Sammut works in the same office as some witnesses, the court ordered they be sum- moned for the next sitting. The case continues on 3 Sep- tember. Lawyers Michael Fenech and Simon Micallef Stafrace are also defending Sammut. Gaddafi connection Sammut had been a close associ- ate of the Gaddafi family for sev- eral years. It comes as little sur- prise, therefore, that Sammut had set up Capital Resources Ltd in June 2010 to hold all assets under Muammar Gaddafi's son Mutas- sim's assumed name Muatasimbl- lah Muammar Abuminyar. Gadd- afi was the sole shareholder in this company. Sammut had also been con- nected to the operations of Seal- andair Energy International, an oil trading company owned by Tunisian brothers Ghazi Mellouli and Maher Mellouli, a company which was highly active in Libya's oil market. Other Libyan firms which have found safety in Sammut's office are Mabco Holding, which oper- ates in the real estate and tourism sectors, run by businessman Jalal Baayou, and Ferasa International Trading & Construction, which is owned by Zuhir Abdusalam Almuntasar, who works in the oil services trade. Others include Lamar Interna- tional Group, headed by Naser al Jerrari, Jawal, headed by Abdul- moneim Abulghasseim, and West Tripoli and Tripoli Stone Com- pany. Former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim Lija chapel undergoes much needed restoration Interior of Our Lady of Miracles chapel bearing the Calabrian knight Mattia Preti's altar piece