Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/707940
2 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 JULY 2016 News Man facing trial by jury remanded in custody for drug possession Court orders ban on the publication of the identity of a man accused of drug possession because this could lead to bad publicity and an unfair hearing in a separate trial by jury he will be facing soon PAUL COCKS A court yesterday issued a ban on the publication of the identity of a man charged with possession of more than 2kg of drugs, as he is soon to start facing a trial by jury in a separate case. Police inspector Justine Grech said that the police had moved in to search the man's garage after observing him for some time. They found a bucket full of cannabis resin and a block of cannabis grass. When searching the defendant's house, they also found a number of plastic bags filled with more cannabis grass. The man was charged with be- ing in possession of drugs, in cir- cumstances which indicate that the drugs were not for his per- sonal use. He was also charged with be- ing in possession of cocaine and breaching the conditions im- posed on him in a previous case. Law yer Roberto Montaldo, ap- pearing for the accused, asked the court for a ban on the publi- cation of the identity of the man, as he would be facing a trial by jury in a different case on 4 Oc- tober. Montaldo said he feared that making the man's identity public now would result in bad publici- ty for his client and would lead to a lack of impartiality by the jury members in his upcoming trial. Inspector Grech said that the prosecution, in the interest of a fair hearing in the other case, did not object to the ban. Magistrate Marseanne Far- rugia accepted the defence's re- quest and banned the publica- tion of the man's identity and personal details. The accused was remanded in custody. Simplified procedure for pro-rata bonuses announced ANDREA ROSSIT TO FOLLOWING a request made in a 'Gvern li Jisma'' consultation session, pensioners, people with disabilities and widows will now be allowed to receive their pro- rata entitlements in real-time. "As it currently stands, people had to go to their employers, check their working hours and inform the government, so as to be entitled the difference in bonus payment," family minis- ter Michael Farrugia told a press conference. Earlier this month Prime Min- ister Joseph Muscat had been approached by a woman who said she was made to feel like a beggar when regularly apply- ing for State bonuses which her disabled children were entitled to while working. "During the last six months, works were carried out in view of becoming more efficient in this regard. From now on, the individuals' working hours will be known beforehand, which means that the pro-rata bonus difference entitlement will be out in real-time." The ministry's new director of simplification, Anthony Cesare, is overseeing several simplifica- tion processes, including a re- form of the application process for non-contributory benefits, which is in the process of being moved online, meaning that ap- plicants no longer need to queue up at government departments to file their paperwork. Farrugia added that the min- istry would soon be launching a benefits calculator in the form of a free-to-download mobile phone app. He also said that the National Commission for People with Disabilities will launch a mo- bile app later on this year that will help people with disabilities identif y accessible public places in real-time. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Family and social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia (left) highlighted the fact that bonus differences will now be out in real time New Gozo law courts receive Planning Commission's green light THE Planning Commission has announced that it has ap- proved new law courts for Gozo. The development will include a multi-storey car park and it will facilitate the process for the relocation of the law courts from their current location in the Cittadella to the new site just outside the centre of Vic- toria. The planning commission has said that the new law courts building will become a landmark architectural feature within an extensive public pla- za to be built in close proximity of the town centre of Victoria. According to the plans, the building will be accessible to all and the project will also include the construction of six levels of parking under the building, of which the first basement level will include 54 car parking spaces dedicated to the magistrates, personnel and staff for the operation of the law courts building. The remaining five levels will ac- commodate a further 441 car parking spaces for the public. The commission said that a site selection exercise was car- ried out as part of the planning process, which included the possible upgrading and refur- bishment of the existing law court building. The exercise assessed vari- ables including the location, environmental impacts, land- scape and visual impacts, so- cial impacts, technical and operational considerations, economic impacts and trans- port among others. The planned new law courts in Victoria will feature six levels of parking, and they will become a "landmark architectural feature"