Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/924080
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 10 JANUARY 2018 News 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 For this reason, he says that screening of police officers should be random, 'professional', and 'instantaneous'. "I have always been clear about my position on drug testing. I wholeheartedly agree that ran- dom urine drug testing should take place within the corp," he said. Camilleri insisted that tests should be carried out on the spot and without delay. Although he said he is unsure about the legal implications of forcing police officers to take mandatory blood tests to check for drugs if a urine test comes out positive, blood tests are also taken. "Police need to adhere to a high standard of conduct," the inspec- tor said, and one way to enforce this is to put in place mandatory and random substance testing. The inspector said that testing of new recruits should also be mandatory. "As far as I know, this was the normal practice when I started out. It is not just an issue of il- licit drugs," he said. "If a police officer is on prescription medi- cation which might affect their performance, it is important that the corp is made aware." Home Affairs Minister Mi- chael Farrugia said that he will not be excluding the possibility of discussing new measures with the two police unions, Police Of- ficers Union and Malta Police Association. "We are considering doing random tests of members of the police force. We will be looking at standard procedures of other European countries," Farrugia told this newspaper. He also said that mandatory screening of all members of the police is also being considered. The minister also believes that members of law enforcement should be held to higher stand- ards of conduct than other indi- viduals caught with drugs. "The police are there for pre- vention, which is why these cases are taken more seriously." tia.reljic@mediatoday.com.mt Minister mulling mandatory screening of police officers MASSIMO COSTA Aaron Cassar, 37 from Birzebbugia, was arraigned in court yesterday charged with having injured Deniro Magri without the intention of killing him or putting his life in serious danger, in a crime which allegedly hap- pened on January 8 in Repub- lic Street, Valletta. He was also charged which breaching previous court conditions, disturbing the public peace and relapsing. The court heard how Cas- sar and Magri had, coinci- dentally or otherwise, met in Valletta, with both being there because of a criminal court case. A fight broke out and Magri was injured, and is currently receiving treat- ment in hospital for fractures he sustained. The defence argued that there was CCTV video evi- dence which showed all that had happened, and through which it appeared that Magri had started the fight. It was thus asking for bail. The prosecution said that, having come across each other, both Cassar and Ma- gri were not capable of just walking on, and instead en- gaged in a fight. It said that if the two met again, there was a danger that an altercation could once again take place, and it thus objected to bail being granted. Separate criminal proceed- ings are currently under way against Magri, who is accused of having shot dead 25-year- old Sylvester Farrugia in Marsa in February 2017, after Farrugia attempted to burn down Magri's home. He had pleaded self-defence to the murder charge. Cassar was also allegedly involved along with Far- rugia in the attempted ar- son attack, and proceed- ings are also under way against him in this regard. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court decided to deny bail at the current stage of the case. Inspectors Jeffrey Scicluna and Keith Arnaud prosecut- ed. Arthur Azzopardi was de- fence counsel. Attempted arson suspect Aaron Cassar accused of injuring alleged Marsa murderer Deniro Magri Fight allegedly broke out in Republic Street, Valletta as the two men were there for a criminal court case THIS year's Festa tac-Citru was officially launched yes- terday at San Anton Palace, as the President's husband, Edgar Preca, joined a group of schoolchildren to pick orang- es from the Palace's Orange Grove. The Festa tac-Citru is be- ing held this Sunday and will be in aid of animal welfare NGOs. The public is invited to the festival, where people will have the opportunity to taste and buy delicacies prepared by the Palace Chef, made from oranges and lemons from the Palace's citrus garden. Daniela Bagnaschi, Senior Marketing Manager at GO, said, "This is the fourth year in which GO is supporting the Citrus Festival. This is part of our ongoing long-term commitment to this event, organized by the Office of the President and other events which are organised by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, which in- cludes both financial and technical support. The Cit- rus Festival has now become a popular fixture for families looking for an entertaining Sunday outing through which funds are also raised for a good cause." The event is hosted by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Schoolchildren pick oranges ahead of Sunday's Festa Tac-Citru The public is invited to il-Festa tac-Citru at San Anton Palace this Sunday, which will be held in aid of Animal Welfare NGOs