PM holds urgent meetings with MPs after Joseph Muscat home search

Jan 21 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela has been calling in Labour Party MPs and Ministers for private meetings in Castille following the police investigation in his predecessor Joseph Muscat’s home.

Abela has allegedly attempted to manage and keep a split from forming within the party as several Labour supporters openly supported Muscat, questioning how the current prime minister did nothing to stop the police investigation.

Abela wanted to send the message through the ministers and MPs that the party was untied and that they should remain calm and serene following the ‘embarrassing visit’. This follows calls made openly by Labour’s One TV chairman Jason Micallef and presenter Emanuel Cuschieri for the party’s faithful to take to the streets to support Muscat. Sources have revealed that they were also expected to be called in by Abela over their social media posts.

The Valletta Cultural Agency head took to social media to rally Muscat’s supporters, saying the the former prime minister is ‘one of us’ and the time to ‘make our voices heard is here.’

Cuschieri also uploaded a similar post, saying; ‘message to Joseph Muscat. You will never stand alone. Just call me and you’ll find me by your side.’

Micallef revealed on Thursday that Abela did not ask for any posts to be removed, revealing that he wholeheartedly trusts the prime minister whilst also standing shoulder to shoulder with Muscat.

The former prime minister, whose Burmarrad home was raided by police and the phones of his two daughters were confiscated, revealed on a Facebook video that after his birthday weekend, he would address his supporters. This has sparked speculation by many that he would contest the election.

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Photo Source: Robert Abela FB, Joseph Muscat FB, Jason Micallef FB

Malta’s police employ officers with coverable tattoos

Jan 21 2022

The discussion as to whether Malta’s Police Force should employ officers with more visible tattoos is still ongoing. Speaking to TVM, Inspector Valerie Mifsud said that, contrary to what many believe, the corp does employ people with tattoos which can be covered with their uniform.

As part of recruitment, Mifsud revealed, these tattoos are all documented and no tattoos with abusive or racial imagery or messages are allowed.

‘Discussions are currently ongoing to see what the situation would be like if calls for people with tattoos from the sleeve downwards are issued. Obviously, prospective officers cannot have tattoos on their face or neck.’

Back in October of last year, Law Enforcement and Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri had said that it is time for the police corp to update its views on tattoos in the force.

He said that a positive change is taking place through a strategic transformation to have a more inclusive and modern force which represents society more.

In fact, Inspector Mifsud told TVM that the evaluation for calls to change the police uniform towards one more comfortable for the police as they carry out their duties is in its last phase.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force FB

Woman who beat husband with rolling pin and kettle released on bail; which victim offered to withdraw

Jan 20 2022

A woman who was charged with brutally beating her husband and making false claims of rape has been granted bail, which was paid for by the victim in what was described as a “surreal” move is Malta’s courts.

The woman, a 36-year-old St. Paul’s Bay resident from North Africa whose name was not allowed to be shared, was arraigned before magistrate Charmaine Galea and pleaded not guilty to charges of moral and psychological violence, isolation and limitation to access of funds, education or employment.

The woman was also charged with damaging his belongings, insulting or threatening him and attempting to cause grievous injuries on her husband, reportedly beating him with rolling pin and full kettle. Further charges included false reports of accusing her husband of rape and sexual harassment, knowing that the victim was innocent.

The couple’s home had CCTV cameras installed due to the reported hosting of foreign language students and capture what Parte civile lawyer Dean Hili as “18 brutal minutes.”

The woman was released on bail with an imposed curfew, with the victim offering to go withdraw the money for her. Regarding the aforementioned situation, the magistrate was heard stating “this is surreal.”

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Former Pope Benedict XVI accused of failing to act on child sexual abuse cases

Jan 20 2022

Former pope Benedict XVI, who served as head of the church between 2005 and 2013, has come under fire for reportedly failing to act on four priests accused of child sexual abuse whilst he was archbishop of Munich.

A law firm which was commissioned to investigate historic abuse allegations has stated that Benedict, who then went by Joseph Ratzinger, has since denied the charges. “We believe that he can be accused of misconduct in four cases. Two of these cases concern abuses committed during his tenure and sanctioned by the state. In both cases, the perpetrators remained active in pastoral care,” said Martin Pusch from the German law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl.

In a letter written by the then-pope regarding such allegations, Benedict stated that he never tried to cover up such acts, despite widespread evidence of priests sexually abusing children.

What do you make of these claims?

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