Prosecute criminals not those who expose them

The co-chairs of the European Parliament’s Media Working Group, MEPs David Casa and Ramona Strugariu have condemned the criminal proceedings against Maltese author Mark Camilleri for publishing documents exposing possible bribery and trading in influence between a sitting MP and the alleged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech.

“It is unacceptable that an author is prosecuted for publishing evidence that is clearly in the public interest. It is all the more unacceptable since it was done in the context of a court case initiated by the MP intended to silence the author when the published documents prove that Camilleri was correct in his statements”.

MEPs Casa and Strugiariu noted how MP Rosianne Cutajar used her public office to further the interests of the alleged murderer, all the while accepting gifts and funds.

“Authors and journalists are at their most vulnerable when the wrongdoing they expose remains unpunished. It beggars belief how so many years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia there have as yet been no convictions over the corruption and money laundering that she was killed to stop her from exposing. This inertia in relation to high level corruption when compared to the swift action against Mr Camilleri exposes the fact that Malta’s institutions continue to be fundamentally compromised."

The published documents clearly open Yorgen Fenech and the MP to possible charges of bribery and trading in influence. And yet, despite this information being in the possession of Malta’s police and Attorney General for three years, no charges have been brought. This is of grave concern.

"We call on the Maltese authorities to immediately drop the proceedings against Mr Camilleri and take action against all those involved in corruption, bribery and trading in influence”, concluded the MEPs.