Two teens identified and arrested after Valletta assault

Jan 24 2023

Police have revealed that intensive investigations have resulted in the arrest of two 16-year-old teens believed to be behind the vicious assault upon other youth in Valletta last Saturday.

The assault left a 15-year-old boy with a broken leg and in need of surgery after a gang of thugs targeted a group of 14 to 17 year old minors in Merchant’s Street.

Further investigations are still underway as the two boys identified are expected to be charged in court tomorrow.

The story enraged many and terrified parents whose young teenage children often meet up in the capital city as they fear for their safety. This incident also prompted Prime Minister Robert Abela to admit that he does not feel fully secure trusting his daughter going out out of fear of a similar incident.

This is a developing story.

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Couple found guilty of gambling away €35,000 raised for son battling cancer

Jan 24 2023

Ryan Debattista and Nicole Bezzina have been found guilty of defrauding their son and others by gambling away the €35,000 in funds raised for their cancer-battling son Kane.

Aged 31 and 27 respectively, Debattista and Bezzina admitted to using their son to raise the amount in question and laundering money. TVMNews had also reported that Debattista was also charged with accepting stolen items and breach probation.

A Puttinu Cares’ spokesperson reported that the young boy had been cured of cancer and was properly taken care of by the parents, receiving the necessary treatment to get cured and make progress.

The couple was sentenced to three years probation, with a €30,000 fine issued to the father, Debattista and €20,000 to the mother, Bezzina.

The court also confiscated €35,000 from the couple, as were as their property and they were banned from any and all establishments related to betting or gambling. The court also ordered three years of treatment against gambling addiction for the two.

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Pelin had fallen in love with Malta, says her uncle

Jan 24 2023

Speaking to Hürriyet newspaper in Turkey, Pelin’s Uncle, Aykan Ceylan, revealed that Pelin was the youngest member of the whole family and had fallen in love with Malta when she travelled here to study languages.

He said that everyone in the family wanted to make Pelin’s dream come true as they supported her request to move from the country after graduating from Turkey.

She wanted to further her education and chose Malta to study languages, immediately falling in love with the island and the people she befriended.

Her uncle reported how Pelin even allegedly refused offers to go to other countries to continue her studies. He described her as the most beautiful and cheerful member of their family, which makes her passing all the more difficult.

Pelin was killed by Jeremie Camilleri in Gzira after he ran her over with his car. He was later found to be intoxicated with cocaine as he continued to throw stones at her and later assaulted people trying to help her. Camilleri had to tased to be brought down by police.

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€85 million into economy through film productions in 2022

Jan 24 2023

As reported by Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo, the film industry contributed to the influx of around €85 million into the Maltese economy in 2022. This, the minister said, would make it the best year in the past decade from this sector’s perspective.

Addressing a press conference, the minister reflected how the year 2022 saw 24 productions filmed in Malta, with many of them aired across the globe.

Bartolo said that Screen Malta will be the slogan adopted by the Malta Film Commission to promote Malta as a filming destination.

Bartolo likened the film industry to an ‘economic vaccine’ as it strengthened the country’s economy when it was most needed. Film Commissioner Johann Grech also addressed the conference, saying that the commission’s work is being translated into results.

Grech said that the plan is yielding fruit and that for the first time in Malta’s history, people are being invested in to give them an opportunity to work full time in this industry.

#MaltaDaily