Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/591015
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2015 News 7 Mario De Marco 'unaware' of political aides' masonic links CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Na- tionalist Party is the only Maltese party whose code of ethics specifi- cally forbids Nationalist Party offi- cials, MPs, local councillors, party candidates, members of Executive Committees of PN movements, sectional committees and party committees, from being freema- sons. Both Galea and Pace are actively involved in the PN's Hamrun sec- tional committee, and the former had a vote in the PN general coun- cil which elected the PN deputy leader in December 2012. A spokesperson for the Nation- alist Party told MaltaToday that membership of the PN and a secret society were "incompatible". "The moment the membership of Mr Galea and Mr Pace in the Malta Grand Lodge became pub- licly known, they automatically stopped being members of the party. The matter is being referred to the Administrative Council of the party for its consideration," a spokesperson. In 2002, former PN secretary- general Joe Saliba had told Malta- Today that Clause 13 of the Code of Ethics which deals with secret societies states that 'secret socie- ties are by their very nature a de- nial of democracy' and that "mem- bership in the Nationalist Party is incompatible with membership in all secret societies, whether it is freemasonry or otherwise." Galea and Pace in France with retired magistrate In an email to members of the Grand Lodge of Malta – a break- away lodge from the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta – the 'Most Worshipful Grand Master' Ben- jamin Muscat, the owner of the Ta' Marija restaurant in Mosta, included Peralta among a group of freemasons travelling to Paris for a meeting between the Maltese freemasons and the Grand Orient of France. Peralta is listed as Grand Regis- trar – namely the Grand Lodge's principal legal officer – and a role that is generally held by a qualified lawyer or judge. The email's sender, Grand Sec- retary Tony Cilia Pisani, sent out the message on 13 October. "I am pleased to inform you that the MWGM Benjamin Muscat will be accompanied to Paris for the sign- ing of the Masonic Treaty between the Grand Orient de France and the Grand Lodge of Malta with the following Brethren: "The Right Worshipful depu- ty grand master Brother Mario Vella Gatt, the Right Worshipful grand registrar Brother Carol Per- alta, Brother Frank Galea, Brother Olvin Galea, [and] Brother Jonath- an Pace," the email continued. Friends: Olvin Galea and Jonathan Pace with Mario de Marco (centre). The MP has urged them to cut their masonic links Olvin Galea, who was a PN councillor in 2012-2013, stands first left on the front, while Tony de Bono is third from left. In the centre is Malta Grand Lodge worshipful master Ben Muscat Smuggling charges hanging on Rosso murder suspect's head MATTHEW VELLA THE police are expected to arraign a man who stands charged with the 2005 murder of Marsaxlokk man Albert Brian Rosso, over the interception of a fishing vessel with thou- sands of undeclared cigarettes on board. The man, Italian national Piero di Bartolo, 40 of Birzebbugia, is to be charged in court when a letter to prosecute from the Customs Department is handed over to the police. On 19 August, the Armed Forces of Malta intercepted Di Bartolo's fishing vessel three nautical miles from the coast. Army person- nel boarded the vessel where they found thousands of cigarette packs being smuggled to Malta. A magisterial inquiry was held and police investigations conducted, the police force confirmed with MaltaToday. The vessel is still being held by the Customs Department. The police did not deny that the boat be- longs or was manned by Di Bartolo. "Letter to prosecute from Customs is awaited and the person responsible will be charged in court soon after," a spokesperson told this newspaper. Di Bartolo's trial by jury for the 2005 mur- der of Albert Brian Rosso was postponed indefinitely back in February 2015 when the court upheld a last-minute application by the Attorney General requesting that a joint trial by jury of Di Bartolo and the co- accused, Anthony Bugeja be held. Di Bartolo's lawyer protested that the inor- dinate delay in starting the trial was breach- ing the accused's right to a hearing within a reasonable time. The lawyer said the request was a strategic move on the part of the AG who had realised, after seven years of cam- paigning, six before the Constitutional Court, for the two cases to be heard separately, that it would be favourable for the prosecution's case for them to be heard together. Lawyer Roberto Montalto said the delays suffered were solely attributable to "the hap- hazard management of the case by the pros- ecutor", pointing out that the compilation of evidence against Di Bartolo was completed in just over two years and the bill of indict- ment had been tabled over seven years ago. Both Di Bartolo and Bugeja are pleading not guilty to the 2005 murder of Albert Brian Rosso. They were previously scheduled to under- go two separate jury trials. Di Bartolo faces charges of complicity in Rosso's murder, dis- posing of a body and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Rosso went missing in October 2005. His body was never found. Investigators believe that Rosso was murdered in a Birzebbuga garage and that his body was dumped at sea.