A libel case filed by Keith Schembri, Chief of Staff to the Prime MInister has had to be postponed to May after Schembri failed to appear for his cross-examination this morning.
Magistrate Francesco Depasquale’s courtroom was packed with lawyers and journalists this morning, all eagerly awaiting Schembri’s cross-examination, after he had testified in an earlier sitting that he had never received any kickbacks. But when the case was called at 1030am this morning, the court was informed that Schembri was unable to attend the sitting.
The libel case was filed after a speech delivered by the then PN Leader on March 6, 2016 in the course of a national protest against corruption organized in Valletta following a series of events in the wake of the Panama scandal.
The high-ranking government official is claiming that certain allegations made by Dr Busuttil during that public event, when addressing the masses gathered in the streets of the capital, amounted to libel in his regard.
During an earlier sitting, Busuttil had insisted on the witness stand that the protest had been directed against the Government in general and that Keith Schembri had been mentioned in the light of his ownership of a secret company in Panama.
It had been pointed out that Schembri had played a role in major contracts concluded by the current government, including the Electrogas deal as well as the privatization of three state hospitals.
Schembri had taken the witness stand, vehemently denying that he had ever received any kickbacks and saying that had he been after money, he would not have left his 12 or 13 companies to take up a position with the Prime Minister.
Schembri had vowed to continue to pursue the case, claiming to have been unable to speak out on account of his official position and because of a medical issue. “All this time I had to face a trial by the media,” he had protested.
Yet when this morning, Schembri was due to return to the witness to face cross-examination by Busuttil‘s lawyer, the court was informed by his legal counsel that their client was unable to make it to the sitting.
Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, presiding over the case, rescheduled the cross-examination to a fresh date in May.
The case continues.
Lawyers Pawlu Lia, Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo appeared for Schembri.
Lawyer Peter Fenech is assisting Busuttil.
In a tweet, Schembri said he looks forward to appearing in court.
