Cocaine traffickers’ defence counsel empowered at law as the person who signs off Security Services’ requests to intercept the telephone calls of cocaine traffickers
Manuel Mallia with one of his most notorious clients, cocaine-trafficker Meinrad Calleja, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Malta. He had already been sentenced to prison in Rome years earlier.
Article 6 of the Security Services Act empowers Manuel Mallia (as the minister responsible for the Security Service) to issue a warrant authorising interception of telephone calls.
In Malta, the Security Services’ main field of activity and preoccupation is not terrorism but organized crime and especially, drug-trafficking.
Given that a significant number of Malta’s worst drug-traffickers (cocaine, not grass) are also Manuel Mallia’s clients – strictly speaking, we should say ‘were his clients’, but it’s best to err on the side of caution, and even if they are no longer his clients, that is still a major conflict of interest – I wonder how this is going to pan out.
Two of Manuel Mallia’s cocaine-trafficking clients have recently been murdered, which eliminates at least one problem for the Security Services in getting his sign-off to intercept their calls. But I really can’t see how Michael Cassar, chief of the Security Service, is going to feel able to go to Manuel Mallia with a request for sign-off on intercepting Meinrad Calleja’s calls, for instance.
Mallia will have no choice but to sign it, but how will Cassar know for certain that Mallia will not tip Calleja off?
These matters really have to be discussed, and discussed in the open, because they are beyond shocking unless we are now beyond being shocked.
What we have here is the defence counsel and legal advisor of cocaine traffickers now in charge, in his capacity as Police and Army Minister, of the Security Services which track and monitor his clients. And before they intercept his cocaine-trafficking clients’ calls, the Security Services have to go to him for permission – which means he knows exactly whose calls they’re intercepting at any given time.
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“These matters really have to be discussed, and discussed in the open, because they are beyond shocking unless we are now beyond being shocked.”
Matthew S’s guest post brings out precisely this disquieting factor: alienation of a whole nation from the really issues that are silently assailing it.
The hype by the gay lobby, Cyrus Engerer and the FKNK is part of this silent, yet effective, alienation. All planned by Muscat. And he is succeeding.
As relevant, I would say, in this context, is the fact that he also has the power to refuse a wiretapping request.
Jien lil hadd ma nhobb nincensa, imma allahares ma kinitx din il-blog biex inkunu nafu hafna affarijiet.
Xi trid tkun taf, Giovann? Ma tafx li lil Joseph suppost tafdah b’ghajnejk m’ghaluqa?
Shocking matters will have to wait until World Cup is over. Then it will be summer, so they will have to wait until September. Then it will be Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza, so they will have to wait until October. Then it will be Christmas soon so they will have to wait until the new year.
Then it’s St. Paul’s shipwreck, then Easter then summer recess and round and round we go.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140607/local/vodafone-ignites-wiretapping-debate.522269
If his motley crew have unlimited access to phone calls from the three main service providers, then they also have unlimited access to e-mails stored on servers in Malta.
What say does the Data Protection Commissioner have in all this?
It’s even more worrying that the secret service now run by staunch Labour supporters might be using their time tapping their political opponents’ telephone lines.
Manuel Mallia was caught evesdropping at the Opposition office in parliament. If he eavesdropped where he knew he could be seen imagine what he does in the privacy of his office.
That’s assumed.
“Dr Azzopardi claimed that his cell phone was being tapped by the government, a claim which was vehemently denied by Minister Mallia, who referred to the claim as outrageous.”
Maybe this wasn’t that far-fetched after all…
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-05-11/news/prior-to-detention-centre-transfer-afm-top-brass-all-held-key-positions-4941152258/
Legalise drugs and put all these primadonnas and their scum clients out of business.
“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (Translated: “Who will watch over the watchmen themselves?)
Answer: The erstwhile lawyer who made a name for himself defending the worst cocaine drug traffickers on the island, now turned LP cabinet minister, will henceforth oversee, or negate, the issue of warrants authorizing any telephone tapping by the police necessary to prosecute with success the murderous fraternity of drug traffickers.
We are totally f**ked. Tried and tested. He knows every trick in the book
Now THIS is scary.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/06/technology/security/nsa-turn-on-phone/index.html?sr=fb060714NSAphone330pStoryLink
As somebody said – “Gvern li jisma … kollox”. (Now, that would make a good meme.)
They’re looking deeply in each others’ eyes – two short fat balding and middleaged Maltese men, with eyes only for one another.
If Mallia wasn’t so aesthetically challenged, the PM would have kicked him up to San Anton.
I have my mind at rest because Simon Busuttil told us that he has confidence in the work of the Malta Security Service under Joseph Muscat and Manuel Mallia.
What a quick conclusion made by an inexperienced person.
Jekk jinstab li Ministru li jkollu fil portofolio tieghu l-Armata ,il Pulizija,ix-Xandir u servizzi sigrieti jkun qed jabbuza min xi haga illecita minn min dawn it-tliet awtoritajiet ser jazzarda jmur ghand il Ministru u jakkuzawh b’atti kriminali meta dan ikun il ministru tieghu?
Ghalhekk huwa inkwetanti meta li jkollok ministru li jkollu awtorita akbar mil Prim Ministru ghax meta jkollox il entitajiet li huwa fundamentali ghad demokrazzija f’idejn persuna wahda hija xi haga perikoluza u tidher li-Prim Ministru ma il veru valur tad-demokrazzija u li int qatt ma tista thalli id-demokrazzija f’idejn persuna wahda.
I can’t help but think that if this position were created for some diehard Labourite ‘bazuzlu’, Lou Bondi would be kicking up a hell of a lot of fuss about it – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140608/local/bondi-earning-54000-as-festivities-consultant.522386
The man has long lost my respect.
If his contract lasts the whole five years it would mean that Bondi’ was worth a quarter of a million in Muscat’s eyes.
However, it will not be enough to buy his credibility back.
Those who are rapped for being impartial can eventually make it to a ‘position of trust’ once Labour is in government.
“The former presenter of discussion programme Bondiplus is thus receiving an annual remuneration of €54,000 and has been engaged on a ‘position of trust’ basis.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140608/local/bondi-earning-54000-as-festivities-consultant.522386
“TV presenter Lou Bondi has been rapped by the Broadcasting Authority for “lack of impartiality” during a recent programme which pitted PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil against PL deputy leader Toni Abela.”
https://www.google.com.mt/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.com.mt%2Farticles%2F2013-01-22%2Fnews%2Fba-raps-lou-bondi-pbs-to-take-court-action-736952320%2F&ei=Gx2UU9jJGeee7Abkt4DADQ&usg=AFQjCNGCeSlTSc1TFdAH4ZffeMfk8qGVkw
Conflict of interest?! What conflict of interest? Positive energy all round!