The Criminal Court yesterday declared that all pending proceedings against Joseph Fenech, known as Zeppi l-Hafi, were definitely dropped by virtue of a general pardon granted by the President of the Republic in 15 May 1996.

Mr Fenech was granted a general pardon, thus effectively suspending proceedings against him regarding a burglary with Tarcisio Borg and Abraham Borg and an instance of conspiracy to deal in cocaine. A bill of indictment for his part in the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana was never issued.

He was granted the pardon after agreeing to testify in key trials held in the 1990s.

The first two trials were held against Clarissa Cachia and her brother Meinrad Calleja, the children of former Army chief Brigadier Maurice Calleja. Mr Fenech was pardoned and prevented from undergoing trial for conspiring with the siblings to deal in cocaine. Ms Calleja was acquitted while her brother was jailed for 15 years.

Mr Fenech was the star witness of another two trials that gripped the nation, those against Ian Farrugia and Carmel Attard, known as Iz-Zambi. They were tried for the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana, then personal assistant to the then prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami. Mr Cachia Caruana is today Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU. Mr Farrugia was acquitted while Iz-Zambi was jailed.

Mr Fenech was represented by lawyers Roberto Montalto, Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri.