Four men fined €33,000 after filming sexual activity with 16-year-old girl in garage

Jun 28 2022

The Court of Appeal has ordered four men to pay around €33,000 in damages to a 32-year-old woman after causing psychological trauma when filming her in a sexual relationship with one of the men in a Luqa garage.

The woman had filed a civil case against the man calling for compensation for the trauma suffered, with the sexual act distributed via DVD in DVD shops and even sent anonymously to the victim’s mother.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the two other men were equally responsible for the footage’s traumatic effects on the woman, with a court-appointed group of experts establishing that the case caused a 6% permanent disability, as opposed to the originally established 30%.

The ruling stated that all men involved caused trauma without denial of connection between their actions and the victim’s suffering. Thus, they were ordered to pay €32,656 in compensation for the victim’s personal damage.

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Couple denied abortion planning to take legal action against Maltese government

Jun 28 2022

The US couple who was denied their request for termination of a non-viable pregnancy whilst in Malta plan to sue the Maltese government for their “heartbreaking ordeal”.

45-year-old Jay Weeldreyer, partner of 38-year-old Andrea Prudente told Times of Malta that once they are home, they will take any action available against Malta. “This was… inhumane and we want to do what we can to prevent it ever happening again. We intend to sue.”

After being denied their request in Malta, Prudente had to be airlifted to Spain to terminate her pregnancy in a Spanish hospital.

Following the events, a group of 135 doctors signed and put forward a judicial protest calling for the reconsideration of the blanket ban on abortion in Malta.

Malta remains the only EU country with a complete ban on abortion.

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Four men guilty of violent theft of elderly man sentenced total 13 years in prison

Jun 27 2022

Four men have been sentenced a total of 13 years in prison in relation to a number of violent thefts in Pietà and neighbouring areas on the same day. The violent crimes happened on 20th September 2020, with one of the victims being an elderly man who was aggressively assaulted to a point that required medical attention.

29-year-old William Kelly Harrison, residing in Valletta was condemned to 4 years and four months in prison; 35-year-old Priviledge Mupimhidzi from Zimbabwe was sentenced another 4 years and 4 months, 30-year-old Libyan Ahmed Ali Salah Lawan was sentenced 2 years and 8 months whilst 32-year-old Indonesian Deko Susanto was given an 18-month sentence.

Police Inspector Lydon Zammit revealed that the Rapid Intervention Unit were doing the rounds in Hamrun on the day of the crime and were called for assistance near Sa Maison gardens, where the 68-year-old man was assaulted. He explained how the group of men stopped him to ask for a cigarette before violently attacking him.

Three of the aggressors were discovered to have drug problems and hostile upbringings, with most of the thefts being motivated by drug use.

The Court ordered treatment for three of aggressors for a period of three years.

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Valletta 1AM music curfew risks turning capital city into ‘nightclub destination’, says MHRA

Jun 27 2022

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has been in contact with the Ministry of Tourism regarding the new law allowing music to be played outside until 1AM.

While the organisation welcomed Valletta’s continuous development into a destination itself thanks to the millions invested in developing high end quality accommodation facilities and restaurant operations, it expressed disappointment in the lack of consultation by the government with the relevant stakeholders about the new 1AM rule.

MHRA highlighted that the updated law positions Valletta alongside the three entertainment hotspots of Paceville, Buġibba and Qawra for the first time, putting Valletta at high risk ‘of becoming another nightclub destination’.

The association called upon the government to review its policies in a comprehensive manner with the aim of improving Valletta “as a quality tourism destination in the wider context of the Malta tourism product”, going on to call for the clustering of music activity along the streets of Valletta, street cleansing, waste collection and joint marketing initiatives, amongst others.

“MHRA once again is reaching out to Government to ensure that the amended law will not end up as a loophole in the system which turns Valletta into yet another mass tourism destination,” the statement concluded.

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