How Norman's file went missing (the screws went first)

Published: March 11, 2009 at 7:53am

We can stop speculating about the really important criminal prosecution of Norman Lowell – the one for bank fraud, rather than that for inciting hatred. Some information has come in from the most reliable of sources.

Full criminal proceedings had started against him in connection with a huge bank fraud committed by forgery, and the material evidence of it was all contained in the criminal court file. This file was stolen from the court registry. The magistrate hearing the case has no doubt who stole it: a lawyer closely related by marriage to Norman Lowell. The magistrate actually saw this lawyer steal the file, but did not realise there and then what it was that he was furtively putting under his toga. A porn magazine, perhaps? When it was noticed that the file had gone missing, it was too late. You have to say this about lawyers’ togas: they may be vast and figure-concealing, but they have their uses.

As all the evidence had disappeared, the magistrate had no choice but to acquit Lowell.




19 Comments Comment

  1. Pat says:

    And no enquiry was made into the lawyer taking the file? They had an eye witness after all, although I suppose he could cook up a half baked story about, as you mentioned, a porn magazine or something instead.

    Doesn’t really help the reputation of the lawyer profession, I’m sad to say.

  2. john says:

    Contrary to what has been said, there was no bank cover-up. It was a much discussed and reported case at the time. It was the largest attempted fraud against a bank in local history – other than the state sponsored robbery of the entire bank itself. It was only because of preposterous greed that the case came to light. Had the perpetrator settled for a mere few hundred thousand liri (or was it still pounds?), a decent sum in those days, he would have pulled it off. [Daphne – It was around 1990, so it was liri.]
    He was suspended from the bank for the duration of the trial (which took some time). When it was all over, and this is the bit that had tickled me, he sued the bank for all the back pay “due”, and won.

  3. Xaghra says:

    ….. and no one is responsible for allowing the lawyer near the file in the first place?

  4. David S says:

    If you ask me I find the judicial system in Malta one big joke: the extraordinary delays in court cases, the shameful sentencing, conflicts of interest, “friendly” contacts (including drug barons), links with freemasons, to court marshals receiving backhanders in warrants of seizure…I am indeed surprised that foreign companies do set up in Malta given such a shady judicial system.

  5. jomar says:

    This is the type of corruption we should be worrying about. And the lawyer in question is still practicing, I suppose.

  6. Harry Purdie says:

    Can’t believe this file wasn’t also stored on a computer. Even a lawyer’s ‘toga’ (thought that had something to do with the Roman Empire) couldn’t hide a big box.

  7. Andrea says:

    David S,

    I suppose that sometimes companies benefit from a ‘shady judicial system’.

  8. Tim Ripard says:

    Why couldn’t the parties have re-constructed the file as well as possible, using records of their own, and then have had a re-trial? It was done in a civil case I was involved in, after the Hon Lorry Sant, Minister of Works, decided to enter the court buildings accompanied by sundry thugs and pillage the court registry, destroying the file pertaining to our case in the process (and a number of other files, of course). This delayed our case by a couple of years but hey – life was like that in the 70s. Very small turkey indeed.

  9. Amanda Mallia says:

    X’riha tinten!

  10. Tony Pace says:

    Come on D…who was he …..or she?

    [Daphne – Sorry, but I won’t tell, or at least, not on this blog.]

  11. Christian says:

    Yesterday, a man found cultivating 20mg (0.02g) of cannabis was jailed for six months and given a EUR400 fine. One understands that 20mg of cannabis is hardly enough for a single joint, let alone distribution. On the same day, a man who threatened to kill another, and who was found in possession of two offensive arms, including a semi-automatic shotgun, was given a suspended sentence.

  12. christian says:

    hi Daphne,
    Was I right about my prev msg addressed to Tony Pace?

    [Daphne – Yes, but you’ll understand that I can’t upload it.]

  13. Leonard says:

    @Christian

    That’s why they’re called penal provisions.

  14. Amanda Mallia says:

    Tony Pace – Ma’ ndunajtx kemm tinten din il-bicca? – X’riha!

  15. kev says:

    @ Christian – “Yesterday, a man found cultivating 20mg (0.02g) of cannabis was jailed for six months and given a EUR400 fine. One understands that 20mg of cannabis is hardly enough for a single joint, let alone distribution. On the same day, a man who threatened to kill another, and who was found in possession of two offensive arms, including a semi-automatic shotgun, was given a suspended sentence.”

    That is the extent to which it goes. They cage a person for growing a plant. Add to that the sheer hypocrisy and high-level crime surrounding this ‘war’ on drugs and you get despotism at its very best. The local powers know it’s a circus, but dare not utter a word, preferring to remain clowns. Coca leaves anyone? Homegrown in Peru…

  16. Tony Pace says:

    Hi Amanda
    Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back….I have to get to the bottom of this…….

  17. kev says:

    @ Tony Pace – “Hi Amanda
    Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back….I have to get to the bottom of this……”

    You ARE at the bottom. I think you need to climb out.

  18. Amanda Mallia says:

    Tony Pace – The case stinks; as for the surname …

  19. John Schembri says:

    @ Harry Purdie : “Can’t believe this file wasn’t also stored on a computer. ” In 1990, we were picking up the pieces. Pity you weren’t here.

Leave a Comment