The Director General of the GRTU Vince Farrugia and Malta Developers Association vice-president Sandro Chetcuti clashed again after Farrugia had finished in hospital on 11March following an incident that happened at the GRTU headquarters, the court heard today.
The incident happened at the Phoenicia Hotel following a meeting which was organised by the Ministry of Finance, the Malta Developers Association and small enterprises.
This was stated on the witness stand by Michael Falzon, MDA’s president, while testifying in the compilation of evidence case against Chetcuti. Sandro Chetcut, 39, of Marsascala, is accused with threatening and causing body grievously harm to Vince Farrugia on 11 March 2010. Originally Chetcuti had been accused of attempted murder but after Magistrate Edwina Grima heard the evidence it was decided that there was not enough evidence for such a crime.
Chetcuti’s attack on Farrugia allegedly took place early afternoon at the GRTU offices in Valletta. He is also accused of breaching peace.
Michael Falzon told the court that when a meeting was held, in which the Finance Minister was present, Vince Farrugia, who had arrived late for the meeting walked towards Sandro Chetcuti and pointed a finger at him.
The witness said that he tried to calm things down and later Farrugia was approached by a person who told him where he was supposed to sit. Vince Farrugia looked angry and walked away from the meeting. Michael Falzon also said that that Paul Abela, President of GRTU, had written on his website that he (Falzon) should be kicked out from a member of the Nationalist Party, because he was a friend of the accused.
Regarding the 11 March 2010 incident, Mr Falzon said that Chetcuti had phoned him and told him that he got fed up with Vince Farrugia’s behaviour and that he had hit him. He had also told him that he was going to report the case to the police, admitting he had hit Farrugia. Mr Falzon also said that he told Chetcuti several times to leave GRTU.
Dr Manwel Mallia and Dr Edward Gatt are assisting the accused while Dr Stephen Tonna Lowell, Dr Kris Busietta and Dr Jean Karl Farrugia are appearing for Vince Farrugia. Inspector James Grech is prosecuting officer.