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James Debono
Alfred Baldacchino, the former Nationalist MP who defected to Labour in the mid-70s and who now claims to be both a Prince and a Grandmaster, has once again requested the courts to stop his erstwhile rival PN candidate, Count Sandro Calleja, from holding investiture ceremonies in which new knights are appointed.
Baldacchino filed a court application following a MaltaToday report in November 2005, in which a defiant Calleja claimed he held an investiture ceremony in March despite a court decree banning him from holding any ceremonies. Calleja also said other ceremonies had been planned for November and December.
As the presumed adopted son of the deceased Russian Grand Duke Grand Duke Dimitrij X Dimitrevic, Baldacchino is claiming he is the only person authorised to appoint new knights in the Ordo Byzantius Sancti Sepulchri.
Calleja, who disputes Baldacchino’s claims, says he is acting as regent of the order until the legitimate successor of Dimitrevic assumes his rights over the order.
The rivalry between the two has left the order in a state of disarray with two rival Orders of the Holy Sepulchre claiming legitimacy on two rival internet sites supporting the claims.
Following Calleja’s declaration in MaltaToday, Baldacchino has asked the Court to order Calleja and fellow knight David Formosa, to declare under oath the names and addresses of the knights appointed in last March’s investiture ceremony.
He has also asked the Court to order Calleja to deposit any fees paid by the newly-appointed knights and to proceed against him for contempt of court.
In their reply, Calleja and Formosa deny that they have personally conducted the investiture ceremonies contested by Baldacchino. They also promise not to hold any ceremonies in the future until the court decides on this case.
The two knights have once again questioned the validity of Baldacchino’s title as Grandmaster of the order, claiming after appointed as an authorised grandmaster by Dimitrevic, his title was revoked by the Grand Duke when Baldacchino tried to usurp the hereditary title.
The case between the feuding knights is being viewed in legal quarters as a test case on the jurisdiction of Maltese law courts on chivalric orders. Chapter 251 of the Civil Code lays down that public officers or authorities recognised by law should refrain from “recognising in any way” any title of nobility.
Calleja argues that since the law courts cannot recognise Baldacchino’s chivalric title, they cannot stop investiture ceremonies from taking place.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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