[MSN] Malta, Valleta. Case re-opened after appeal. The criminal court of appeals presided by Justice Joe Galea Debono consented to the appeal of the Attorney General to re-open the case against Ian Farrugia who was found not guilty of stealing a priceless painting and other works of art.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Case re-opened after appeal
by Alan Fenech, di-ve news

VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news)--September 27, 2007 -- 1945CEST-- The criminal court of appeals presided by Justice Joe Galea Debono consented to the appeal of the Attorney General to re-open the case against Ian Farrugia who was found not guilty of stealing a priceless painting and other works of art.

The case was re-assigned to the court of magistrates so as to listen to a witness with regards to the case.

Ian Farrugia together with other persons were found not guilty of having stolen the fore-mentioned works of art from the private collection of Justice Giovanni Bonello during the week preceding the 5th of April 2004.

The thieves had entered the residence in Old Bakery Street in Valletta through a hole from the basement made by removing slabs from the flooring above. The objects stolen formed part of a larger collection and were intended to be sold abroad.

The goods were found three weeks later in a garage in Birkirkara, hidden behind a false wall while a painting was found in a house nearby.

Farrugia was not found guilty of having kept or bought stolen goods with the intention of selling or distributing them. The sentence was made definite and cannot be altered.

The Attorney General did not agree with the sentence passed and asked the court of appeals to listen to all the evidence especially the important witness by Joseph Portelli, whose witness had been deemed unfit by the Court of Magistrates since legal procedures against him had not yet been decided. The court had at the time ignored the appeal by the Attorney General. This was according to law.

In the meantime the procedures against Portelli had been concluded but the court of magistrates still did not listen to his witness. This has led to the re-opening of the case and the procedures before the court prior to the 21st of July 2006 being declared null.

The court of magistrates will now listen to Portelli's witness and then ask the accused if he finds any objection for the court to proceed, according to the witness given and hence according to the declaration by Farrugia.

http://www.di-ve.com