Chetcuti files police challenge to investigate Vince Farrugia over perjury

Malta Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti has filed a police challenge in court, calling on the law courts to demand that the Police Commissioner investigates former GRTU-director general Vince Farrugia over perjury.

Farrugia’s request follows a call made in 2013 by Magistrate Edwina Grima, asking the Commissioner of Police to investigate the alleged false testimony of Vince Farrugia and other witnesses during the prosecution of Chetcuti for attempted manslaughter.

In an application filed against the Police Commissioner earlier today, Chetcuti argued that even though there was clear “prima facie” evidence to implicate Vince Farrugia over perjury charges, the police commissioner had yet to arraign or even investigate the former GRTU director.

He is requesting the Commissioner to charge Vince Farrugia with perjury, suborning of witnesses to give false evidence, and fabrication of evidence.

The dispute relates to Chetcuti’s criminal proceedings in 2013, when then-Magistrate Edwina Grima acquitted him of the attempted murder and the grievous bodily harm of Farrugia, then 65. He was found guilty of causing slight injury of Farrugia.

The incident had occurred on 11 March, 2010 when Chetcuti assaulted Farrugia after the two had met to discuss an SMS that Chetcuti had mistakenly sent him, but which was addressed to then Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.

Even though he was acquitted of the attempted murder charge, Chetcuti was however sentenced to one month 'simprisonment suspended for a year after he was found guilty of causing Farrugia slight injuries, and of harassing and threatening the former GRTU director.

The Magistrate had also called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate the alleged false testimony of Vince Farrugia and other witnesses, over their evidence to the court against Chetcuti.

Taking umbrage at the police for not investigating Farrugia, Chetcuti called on the court to order the police commissioner to investigate and arraign Farrugia over charges of perjury, of fabricating false evidence, and of suborning witnesses to give false evidence.

Moreover, Chetcuti argued that the charges were so “obvious that even the magistrate ordered the police commissioner to investigate an arraign Vince Farrugia.”

“Despite the fact that there is prima facie evidence to implicate Farrugia, the police has yet to investigate or press charges against Vince Farrugia. There is no difficulty for the police to start criminal proceedings against Farrugia,” he said.

Consequently, Chetcuti called on Magistrate Aaron Farrugia to order the police commissioner to arraign Vince Farrugia.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and William Cuschieri signed the protest.