PN calls for resignations as it accuses the government of being a ‘tool for criminals’
Updated at 5.30pm, adds a PN statement
The Nationalist Party has called for the resignation of the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice after a dramatic day in court involving one of the men at the heart of the 2010 HSBC robbery.
Her statement followed an earlier one by the Republican civil society group, which also called for the AG’s resignation for its “betrayal of justice”.
The calls came shortly after Darren Debono, known as the Mouse, flatly refused to mention an accomplice in the heist other than Vince Muscat. He refused to do so despite his involvement in the robbery and attempted murder of two policemen.
During the robbery, three men, wearing wigs and fake mustaches, entered the HSBC building in Qormi.
Police arrived at the scene after receiving information about suspicious activity in the building and, upon arrival, a vehicle, parked in front of the bank, rushed out with the officers running.
The three men were still inside the bank when someone called for help and officers returned.
When the intruders tried to leave, a shot was fired in which experts estimated that about 60 rounds had been fired. During the commotion, the second getaway car managed to escape with all the intruders.
“The shocking developments in our courts in the past few hours confirm that the government of Robert Abela is a tool for criminals and a threat to the security of the people,” said the PN.
She said she had warned of what would happen in the past weeks and the AG failed to explain its decision which led to the current situation.
The failure of the Minister of Justice to publicly state his position on the AG’s actions confirmed that he was complicit, together with the Prime Minister, in a network of interests and abuses enjoyed by the PL and the key politicians within Labor.
In this case, the PN continued, decisions were taken to protect Minister Carmelo Abela and former minister Chris Cardona.
He said that under Labor, criminals had the peace of mind that if they were caught they would get the agreement they want through the intervention of the AG.
At the same time, the PN said, well-behaved people felt threatened and lacked peace of mind for fear of persecution.
In its statement, the Republic said that like the rest of Malta, it was “shocked and disgusted” that the AG had pardoned Debono, and released a “long and deserved” prison sentence.
Prime Minister Robert Abela last month defended the agreement reached with Debono.
The Advocate General’s decision to reach a pardon agreement with Debono was not in the interests of justice but in the interests of certain people, who had already been mentioned by Vince Muscat, said the NGO of the kingdom of -right.
Muscat himself had offered details of the robbery to investigators to obtain his own pardon.
In 2020, the Times of Malta reported on the information offered, including the alleged involvement of Labor MP Carmelo Abela.
On Thursday, Debono was scheduled to testify in the case against Muscat. His testimony was intended to be given in exchange for a 10-year plea deal.
But as soon as he finally threw himself in the witness stand after weeks of legal quarrels over the admissibility of his testimony, he clearly refused to mention any accomplices in the robbery, other than Muscat, because he was afraid. for his family.
“It is clear from what we saw in court today that the AG’s decision was not in the interests of justice but in the interests of people whom Vince Muscat has already mentioned and was willing to testify as complicit,” she said. Republic.
Before the current trial began, Muscat had identified Minister Carmelo Abela and former minister Chris Cardona as accomplices in the crime, she said. Both Abela and Cardona deny involvement in the crime.
Muscat had offered to name all the accomplices but his request for a plea bargain was denied, adding that the AG chose to prosecute the witness who was willing to mention everyone and forgive the one who did not want to mention anyone.
Republic said the function of the AG was not to protect ministers but to see that justice is done.
She said that when the news of the plea bargain with Debono came out, she had asked the AG to explain her decision as he was accused of trying to kill a policeman while performing his duties and in the past he had been caught lying under oath.
But the AG had ignored the Republic’s request.
Whatever her motives, the group said, she had left a person who tried to kill the officers to escape justice and his accomplices would remain free, and ridicule the country.
Republic said it would later hold a protest in front of the Attorney General’s office in Valletta on Friday at 6.30pm.
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