NEWS | Wednesday, 19 November 2008

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Mifsud Bonnici told to reveal names of middlemen in Nadur girl rape

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici has been asked whether any action was taken by police over attempts by middlemen, including lawyers, to pay the family of a 14-year-old girl not to testify against her alleged rapists.
Labour MP Evarist Bartolo asked the minister to reveal the names of two layers who allegedly offerred €30,000 for the girl’s family not to pursue the complaint.
The case concerns the arrest of Josef and Peter Paul Said from Nadur, Gozo, aged 27 and 34 respectively, who have been arraigned together with two other men and accused of sexual offences.
The Saids, brothers to parliamentary secretary Chris Said, were charged with holding the underage girl against her will and raping her.
Mifsud Bonnici replied that criminal proceedings were still pending before the Court and withheld comment on the matter.
A Nadur priest and two lawyers were reported to have approached the girl’s mother, for a request by close relatives of the Said brothers to sign a contract in return for €7,000 not to testify against them.
Parliamentary secretary Chris Said has already told MaltaToday he was not aware of the approach made to the girl’s family. “Dr Said’s position is clear – he will not interfere at any stage of this case. This was his position from the very beginning,” a spokesperson said.
Peter Paul and Josef Said stand accused of raping the girl, while Mark Lorry Said and Peter Paul Debono were charged with her defilement. They are all under house arrest.
In his decree on their bail conditions, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano pointed out that maneuveres had taken place to pay the girl’s family so that the complaint against the Said brothers is not pursued.
But Andrew Borg Cardona, president of the Chamber of Advocates, had said at the time of the sentence that the comments made by the Chief Justice did not in themselves indicate any impropriety.
“The facts are not sufficiently clear as to warrant the Chamber taking a position. Insofar as concerns anything else, there is insufficient information at this time for a position to be taken or for it to be apparent that a position needs to be taken.
“The Chamber expects that all advocates conduct themselves with integrity towards the Court and their clients. Insofar as concerns this case, the comments made by the Chief Justice do not, in themselves, indicate any impropriety. The Chamber will act on any complaint, if such is received, or if it becomes aware of any act or omission by an advocate that warrants action. If such is the case, action can include reference of the matter to the Commission for the Administration of Justice.”
The contract, drawn up by a Gozitan lawyer, specified payment for €7,000 as well as a €23,000 guarantee in a pledge that the accused would not approach the girl. Two other lawyers intervened on the day of the Said brothers’ arraignment to come to an arrangement.

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