Court finds man guilty of Group 4 theft, does not award company damages
Although a court found a man guilty today of stealing more than €120,000 from a Group 4 Securitas Van in 1998, it failed to award the company damages on grounds that it failed to substantiate its claims. Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef, in the First Hall of the Civil Court, delivered this judgment following a writ of summons filed by Group 4 Securitas (Malta) Ltd and two foreign insurance companies against Michael Angelo Pace, Victor Calleja and Jason Calleja. The companies claimed that Mr Pace, an employee of Group 4, had organised a hold up of the company's van that he was driving. Lm51,692.64 (€120,411.46) in cash and Lm161,448.84 (€376,074.63) in cheques were stolen. The hold up took place in Marsa on December 22, 1998. The court was requested to find respondents responsible for the theft and to order them to pay damages. The court heard that Mr Pace had admitted to the criminal charges against him and had been given a suspended sentence by the Magistrates Court. Both Victor and Jason Calleja denied complicity and had not faced criminal charges.(timesofmalta.com)
Franco Debono - 'no comment' on confidence motion, but calls for Constitutional reform
MP Franco Debono this afternoon preferred not to comment on the no confidence motion moved in parliament this morning by the Opposition, although it appeared that nothing has changed since he said last week that he would vote against the government. "I hope that all this leads the people to realise that the country must urgently embark on an important process of Constitutional reforms which must change political culture and practices and reform the fundamental institutions of our democracy, including the law on political parties and party financing. "Until then, unfortunately, political parties remain the most unregulated bodies at Maltese law," Dr Debono said. The MP in the past few months had insisted that the government should move modern legislation on political party financing. He also presented a private motion outlining a wide range of reforms in the justice sector.(timesofmalta.com)
Emirates Holidays offers attractive packages for Dubai Shopping Festival
mirates Holidays is offering attractive packages to travellers from Malta wishing to visit Dubai during the 16th annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) which runs until 5th February 2012. Emirates Holidays has teamed up with beach and city hotels to offer a 5 day/4 night- stay during DSF. The packages include airfare Malta/Dubai/Malta, 4 nights’ accommodation with buffet breakfast, meet and assist on arrival at Dubai International Airport, transfers airport/hotel/airport in a private car, room tax and service charges. The prices of the package in a four-star city hotel start from €550 per person and in a five- star Beach Hotel start from €795 per person in a sharing twin room. Many hotels also have various value-added offers that include discounts on spa package treatments, free extra nights and meal discounts. The rates do not include airport taxes, amounting to €5.61 and the Dubai visa charge of €60. Terms and conditions apply. “The Dubai Shopping Festival offers a unique shopping experience. Maltese visitors will find every major brand in the world in Dubai, which has approximately 14 million square feet of shopping space in its malls, including the worlds’ largest shopping centre, the Dubai Mall. Our packages are designed to help make a Dubai stay more affordable,” commented Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates’ Manager in Malta.(independent.com.mt)
New discounts from Citadel Insurance
With the Christmas spending spree now over Citadel Insurance plc is offering its customers the chance to recover some cash with a wide array of new discounts and offers across its motor insurance policies that can give additional savings of up to 20 % off motor insurance premiums. These discounts are being applied across a number of policies with special benefits for those with newly registered cars. This new offer applies to both comprehensive and third party fire and theft policies allowing those buying a newly registered vehicle to see considerable savings on their insurance. These discounts also stack with a number of other savings that Citadel Insurance currently offers. Careful drivers with four years claim free period, drivers owning low emission vehicles and vehicles which are not used often can already benefit from specific schemes, as can customers who insure multiple vehicles within the same household. Traditionally, multiple vehicle discounts have only been applicable between spouses. Now, Citadel Insurance has extended this benefit to allow all members of the same household to benefit. So, other members living in the same household can now be included in this scheme, allowing them to enjoy cheaper motor insurance.(independent.com.mt)
HSBC staff in Gozo on educational visit to the Giordan lighthouse
HSBC staff at the Victoria branch in Gozo paid an educational visit to the Air Pollution Monitoring Station at the Giordan lighthouse in Għasri, Gozo. Hosted by Prof. Ray Ellul from the Atmospheric Research Physics Department of the University of Malta, HSBC staff learnt about data collected at the station and its relevance to monitor climate change. The Giordan lighthouse was built by the British army in 1853 and it was previously an important station for the recording of meteorological data. By the year 2000, it was established as a formal Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) station accredited to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) measurement programme for atmospheric trace gas monitoring. It also furnishes the Malta Meteorological Office with daily weather data. Three years ago, new and more modern equipment was installed at the station for the collection of data from Central Mediterranean with the collaboration of researchers from Germany, Greece, France and the UK. Data collection from this station is very important due to Malta’s strategic position in central Mediterranean and particularly in view of the proximity to volcanic areas and the high ship traffic between Sicily and Malta.(independent.com.mt)
Although a court found a man guilty today of stealing more than €120,000 from a Group 4 Securitas Van in 1998, it failed to award the company damages on grounds that it failed to substantiate its claims. Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef, in the First Hall of the Civil Court, delivered this judgment following a writ of summons filed by Group 4 Securitas (Malta) Ltd and two foreign insurance companies against Michael Angelo Pace, Victor Calleja and Jason Calleja. The companies claimed that Mr Pace, an employee of Group 4, had organised a hold up of the company's van that he was driving. Lm51,692.64 (€120,411.46) in cash and Lm161,448.84 (€376,074.63) in cheques were stolen. The hold up took place in Marsa on December 22, 1998. The court was requested to find respondents responsible for the theft and to order them to pay damages. The court heard that Mr Pace had admitted to the criminal charges against him and had been given a suspended sentence by the Magistrates Court. Both Victor and Jason Calleja denied complicity and had not faced criminal charges.(timesofmalta.com)
Franco Debono - 'no comment' on confidence motion, but calls for Constitutional reform
MP Franco Debono this afternoon preferred not to comment on the no confidence motion moved in parliament this morning by the Opposition, although it appeared that nothing has changed since he said last week that he would vote against the government. "I hope that all this leads the people to realise that the country must urgently embark on an important process of Constitutional reforms which must change political culture and practices and reform the fundamental institutions of our democracy, including the law on political parties and party financing. "Until then, unfortunately, political parties remain the most unregulated bodies at Maltese law," Dr Debono said. The MP in the past few months had insisted that the government should move modern legislation on political party financing. He also presented a private motion outlining a wide range of reforms in the justice sector.(timesofmalta.com)
Emirates Holidays offers attractive packages for Dubai Shopping Festival
mirates Holidays is offering attractive packages to travellers from Malta wishing to visit Dubai during the 16th annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) which runs until 5th February 2012. Emirates Holidays has teamed up with beach and city hotels to offer a 5 day/4 night- stay during DSF. The packages include airfare Malta/Dubai/Malta, 4 nights’ accommodation with buffet breakfast, meet and assist on arrival at Dubai International Airport, transfers airport/hotel/airport in a private car, room tax and service charges. The prices of the package in a four-star city hotel start from €550 per person and in a five- star Beach Hotel start from €795 per person in a sharing twin room. Many hotels also have various value-added offers that include discounts on spa package treatments, free extra nights and meal discounts. The rates do not include airport taxes, amounting to €5.61 and the Dubai visa charge of €60. Terms and conditions apply. “The Dubai Shopping Festival offers a unique shopping experience. Maltese visitors will find every major brand in the world in Dubai, which has approximately 14 million square feet of shopping space in its malls, including the worlds’ largest shopping centre, the Dubai Mall. Our packages are designed to help make a Dubai stay more affordable,” commented Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates’ Manager in Malta.(independent.com.mt)
New discounts from Citadel Insurance
With the Christmas spending spree now over Citadel Insurance plc is offering its customers the chance to recover some cash with a wide array of new discounts and offers across its motor insurance policies that can give additional savings of up to 20 % off motor insurance premiums. These discounts are being applied across a number of policies with special benefits for those with newly registered cars. This new offer applies to both comprehensive and third party fire and theft policies allowing those buying a newly registered vehicle to see considerable savings on their insurance. These discounts also stack with a number of other savings that Citadel Insurance currently offers. Careful drivers with four years claim free period, drivers owning low emission vehicles and vehicles which are not used often can already benefit from specific schemes, as can customers who insure multiple vehicles within the same household. Traditionally, multiple vehicle discounts have only been applicable between spouses. Now, Citadel Insurance has extended this benefit to allow all members of the same household to benefit. So, other members living in the same household can now be included in this scheme, allowing them to enjoy cheaper motor insurance.(independent.com.mt)
HSBC staff in Gozo on educational visit to the Giordan lighthouse
HSBC staff at the Victoria branch in Gozo paid an educational visit to the Air Pollution Monitoring Station at the Giordan lighthouse in Għasri, Gozo. Hosted by Prof. Ray Ellul from the Atmospheric Research Physics Department of the University of Malta, HSBC staff learnt about data collected at the station and its relevance to monitor climate change. The Giordan lighthouse was built by the British army in 1853 and it was previously an important station for the recording of meteorological data. By the year 2000, it was established as a formal Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) station accredited to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) measurement programme for atmospheric trace gas monitoring. It also furnishes the Malta Meteorological Office with daily weather data. Three years ago, new and more modern equipment was installed at the station for the collection of data from Central Mediterranean with the collaboration of researchers from Germany, Greece, France and the UK. Data collection from this station is very important due to Malta’s strategic position in central Mediterranean and particularly in view of the proximity to volcanic areas and the high ship traffic between Sicily and Malta.(independent.com.mt)