Updated | PlusOne owners in court to face charges on Paceville incident

Paceville impresario Hugo Chetcuti and Stephen Ciangura, the chauffeur of the chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, and 18 other individuals before magistrate Ian Farrugia to face charges regarding the collapse of a glass banister at PlusOne club in Paceville last November, in which 80 people were injured .

In all, 23 persons are facing charges relating to their contributions to the incident.

Chetcuti, 49, together with businessman Frankie Grima and Carlo Schembri in their capacity as directors of Three Sixty Ltd together with Jonathan Grima as Plus One's manager, were charged with causing grievous injury through negligence, operating an unlicensed catering outlet, failing to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of patrons in their establishment, failing to maintain emergency exits, doors and fire extinguishers.They were also accused of failing to notify the ETC with the employment of staff and with employing unlicensed bouncers. 

Frankie Grima did not appear in court today, as he was abroad.

Other charges included the allowing of under-17s into a club, serving alcohol to a minor, and offences relating to the sale of cigarettes to under -18s and allowing of smoking inside their enclosed establishment.

18-year-old Zach Latif and Andre Bugeja, aged 17,were charged with causing grievous injury to several persons and unlicensed possession of a weapon, in this case pepper spray. Kathleen Grima appearing in parte civile for 2 of the 17-year-old victims who were injured will be presenting a note with her submissions.

Gigilo pointed out that the defence had not planned to asking for more time, but time was indeed required because the prosecution had chosen a procedure which uses testimony given before the magisterial inquiry instead of summoning witnesses to testify again. The defence now had to wade through 13 volumes of the record of the inquiry, said the lawyer.

An annoyed Giglio pointed out that the inquiry records, known as the proces verbal, is shown to the minister of the interior and the prosecution but not the defence. “Need I say more?” asked the lawyer.

The court found Tyson Grech, accused of working as a bouncer without the necessary licence, guilty of contempt of court and fined him €500 for not turning up for today's sitting.

Magistrate Vella ordered that Grech be brought for the next sitting under arrest. Grech was one of nine persons similarly charged, the others being Mark Dimech, Russel Vassallo, Emanuel Caruana, Roderick Caruana, Tyson Grech, Christian l Ichati, Wayne Catania, Constantine Borg and Sammy Grima.

Security staff Wayne Catania, Constantine Borg, Sammy Grima, Noel Agius and Renard Tabone were charged with allowing underage persons into an entertainment venue. Borg was also charged with breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence. Dimech was also charged with breaching a probation order.

A discharge of pepper spray inside the club caused a stampede towards the exits which, in turn, had caused a glass bannister to give way under the weight of the crowd. 14 youths suffered grievous injuries whilst over 80 suffered slight injuries. Two girls were in critical condition.



Although the club was licenced for 200 persons, 450 revellers were packed inside on the night. At least 34 of them were aged under 17.



A subsequent inquiry led by Magistrate Doreen Clarke also found under age drinking, indoor smoking, non-existent emergency exits and unlicensed security guards, amongst other worrying shortcomings. An unlicensed Serbian security guard, Bojan Spasic, who spoke no English or Maltese was singled out by the inquiry as having urged the patrons to leave the club.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi Joe Giglio, Toni Abela, Stephen Tonna Lowell, Antonio Depasquale, Joe Brincat defended the accused.

Inspectors James Grech, Elton Taliana and Saviour Baldacchino prosectuted.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia presided.