I write on behalf of Anthony Busuttil of 439/2 St Paul’s Street, St Paul’s Bay with reference to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s article entitled “What about the woman?” (TMIS, 10th January) concerning the abduction of Adam Busuttil by his mother Larisa Leontieva.
My client would like to state facts which Mrs Caruana Galizia is not aware of or have been inadvertently left out of her article.
The facts are the following:
1) Adam Busuttil is the son of Anthony Busuttil and Larisa Leontieva and was born in Malta on 11th September 2008.
2) Anthony Busuttil and Larisa Leontieva have been in a relationship for the past 11 years and resided in Malta throughout their relationship.
3) Ms Leontieva is a Russian national and has Russian Passport No. 51 No. 4347194. She is not a Czech citizen.
4) Adam Busuttil only speaks English and understands Maltese.
5) Adam Busuttil attends San Andrea School, tal-Mselliet, Mgarr, Malta and has been attending this school for the past three years and this up to 1st December 2015 when he was abducted by his mother in Prague while the family was on holiday.
6) Adam Busuttil has four brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, uncles and aunts and a grandmother while in Russia he has only a maternal grandfather.
7) On 15th December 2015, the Family Court in Malta decreed that the father should be given sole custody and I quote “in the best interest of the child” as well as issuing a temporary passport; a warrant of prohibitory injunction No. 1897/15 was decreed by the said court on the day aforementioned.
8) On 29th December 2015, the Family Court decreed that Article 39 of the Council of Europe Regulation 2201/2003 popularly known as Brussels II be applied with urgency in order that the decrees of 15th December 2015 be recognised by the Czech Courts.
9) On 8th January 2016, Adam Busuttil was located in Prague, Czech Republic and the father was not allowed to have contact with his son by the Czech Authorities.
10) My client was informed that his son Adam has not been attending school since he was abducted.
11) My client has demanded the Czech Courts to grant him custody in terms of the Brussels II Regulation decreed by the Maltese Courts, but this has been rejected until the said Czech Courts decide the jurisdictional matter.
12) In the meantime, he was not given access to see his son and has now applied for access before the said Czech Courts but to date no decree has been given to that effect.
13) My client intend on going to live in the Czech Republic to be with his son until the Czech Courts decide to enforce the decrees of the Maltese Courts in order that he has access to his son Adam.
14) My client has no criminal record and for all intents and purposes is attaching a copy of the Police Conduct Certificate for your perusal.
Opinions may vary but facts are sacred.
In the circumstances, I shall be very grateful if The Malta Independent on Sunday reproduces this letter with the same prominence it gave to Mrs Caruana Galizia’s article.
Edward DeBono