Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
4 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 News JURGEN BALZAN THE man who fled Malta after al- legedly attempting to perform an abortion on his partner in Swieqi two weeks ago has told a Libyan newspaper that he "punched" the pregnant woman in the stomach during a row, but denied trying to perform an abortion. Ashref Ammar Marghami al- legedly attempted to perform an abortion on his Moroccan partner with a knife, which he doused in gin and set alight to sterilise. However, in comments to Libyan newspaper The Observatory, the fugitive said that upon hearing that the woman was pregnant with his child, he proposed to her. But the charmless Marghami added that the woman – whom he described as "a witch who steals children" – refused to marry him. "She told me that she wanted to go to France to give birth to the child there and obtain permission to live in France," he said, adding that the woman's visa to stay in Malta was about to expire. Marghami, who is believed to be in hiding in Europe after hav- ing escaped the country, told the newspaper that he wanted to mar- ry the woman because he did not want the child to be illegitimate or brought up without a father. The man said that the woman has three nationalities, Moroccan, Syrian and Libyan and also alleged that she ran a brothel in Swieqi. He also alleged that the woman has three children from three dif- ferent men and that the she had eloped to Tunisia with the three children before coming to Malta. The incident during which the alleged abortion would have been attempted, happened on Sunday 2 April, and initial reports said that the woman's 16-year-old daugh- ter disrupted the crime after find- ing her mother in the bathroom with her legs and wrists bound with duct tape. The man escaped before the po- lice arrived on the scene, and Eu- ropol is assisting in the manhunt after an international European Arrest Warrant was issued for his capture. While denying the accusations of attempting a forced abortion, the man admitted to having a heated argument with the wom- an. "I quarrelled with her and the argument between us intensified. I got upset and nervous. I hit her several times in the stomach. She lost consciousness and started bleeding. I was scared and tied her to the bed," he told The Ob- servatory. The woman – who suffered a miscarriage a few days after the incident – alleged that she was attacked in the bedroom by Mar- ghami and three other men who she said were masked. In an inter- view with the Malta Independent, the woman named two of the oth- er aggressors as Tarek and Imad, who she said were Marghami's friends. The woman did not iden- tify the fourth man. But Marghami said he was alone when the incident happened and claimed that his friends are inno- cent. "They lived with me in the same house and I confirm that they have absolutely nothing to do with the incident," he said. "I admit that I did what I did alone… and since I am a Muslim who does not accept a forbidden child I take responsibility for what I did before God and my family and all the people." MATTHEW VELLA OIL exploration firm Rockhopper has confirmed it will not extend its exploration study agreement for oil exploration in Malta, a decision first mooted two years back. The oil company said it had given notice to the Maltese regulator that it will not extend the Area 3 Explo- ration Study Agreement, which ex- pired in December 2016, citing its "highly selective approach to new exploration ventures" as reason. In December 2014, Rockhopper had already informed the Maltese government it will be withdrawing from the Area 4 licence it took over from Mediterranean Oil and Gas earlier that same year. The decision followed results from the Hagar Qim well drilled in mid-2014. But elsewhere in Area 3, Rockhop- per was processing a 2D-broadband survey, which interpretation in- formed the decision whether to ex- tend or not the ESA. Falklands firm Rockhopper com- pleted the acquisition of Mediterra- nean Oil & Gas plc in 2014, acquir- ing a portfolio of production and exploration interests in Italy, Malta and France. Only a year earlier, MOG boss Bill Higgs spoke of exciting geological data from an €8.3 million exercise that indicated a prospective oil de- posit for anything up to 200 million barrels. But Malta's most anticipated oil prospects in 20 years fizzled out as quickly as they had started: weeks before plugging the Hagar Qim well in June, MOG sold its shares to Rockhopper for €37 million, at a premium of 31.1% over its average share price. Rockhopper acquired a low-cost entry into the Mediterranean, apart from its gas facilities holdings both onshore and offshore Italy. The Hagar Qim well proved a dry hole by the time MOG spudded a Career Opportunity Iden ty Malta Agency is seeking to strengthen its ICT support through the recruitment of: www.iden tymalta.com Objec ve of the role: The selected applicants will be responsible for ICT network support related to Units falling under the remit of Iden ty Malta. (4) Junior Administra ve Officers (ICT Network and Support). Jobsplus Permit Number: 226/2017 Knowledge, skills and experience: • Applicants must be in possession of a Level 5 qualifica on MCAST Advanced Diploma in IT Computer Systems and Networks or equivalent. • At least one (1) year experience in an IT support role. • Applicants must have basic knowledge of network enterprise security and network infrastructures. • Candidates with CCNA Cisco Network Cer fica on in networking or equivalent, knowledge of eletronics, telephone and security systems will be preferred. • Applicants must demonstrate teamwork skills. Interested persons are to send a covering le er together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae by not later than 22nd April 2017, addressed to Chief Officer Human Resources, Iden ty Malta Agency, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Old Hospital Street, Valle a VLT 1645. Applica ons may also be sent by email to recruitment@iden tymalta.com. Iden ty Malta is a government Agency established through Legal No ce LN269 of 2013. Oil firm stops Malta Fugitive denies abortion allegations but admits punching pregnant woman in stomach