Go for it, Mr Ombudsman – it’s about time some proper big cheese stood up to Manuel Mallia
The Ombudsman filed a judicial protest in the Courts of Justice this morning against the Minister of the Interior (somehow, that style is more appropriate in the current context than ‘Home Affairs’).
He says in his formal protest that reports of abuse made to his office by army officers/soldiers cannot be properly investigated because Manuel Mallia’s office is refusing to accede to his requests for information.
Mallia says he is obstructing the Ombudsman because the latter does not have the right to investigate army-related complaints and reports. He says that the law specifies how officers’ complaints should be brought to the attention of the head of state by the Commanding Officer, through the Army Minister (him).
The Ombudsman has asked the Courts of Justice to rule on his proper jurisdiction in this matter, saying that it is his remit to defend Maltese citizens and investigate their reports of injustices committed or discrimination perpetrated against them, whoever they might be.
Manuel Mallia’s justification is beyond belief. Most of these complaints were lodged with the Ombudsman after Mallia rapidly promoted Jeffrey Curmi through the ranks (what was it – up four ranks in as many weeks?) to make him brigadier and the army commanding officer within a month.
Yet he says that those who were collateral damage in these and other promotions must file their complaint with the beneficiary of the abuse who will then pass it on to the perpetrator, who will in turn pass it on to the beneficiary-perpetrator-affiliated head of state.
And justice is served.
Well, my dears, expect no better from somebody who appoints the father of his cocaine-trafficking jailbird client to a board of review for ‘army injustices’, when that same man had to resign as the army’s commanding officer 20 years ago because his son and daughter were passing one-kilo bags of cocaine to each other under his very own roof.
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http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-06-13/news/ombudsman-files-judicial-protest-against-minister-manuel-mallia-5458198528/
Knowing our PM, he will use his case against Mallia as the right excuse at the right moment to get rid of him.
The PM has been struggling to kick Mallia on the backbenches. The Ombudsman just present him with the opportunity to do so.
Having said that, however, the PM might also use this case against Mallia and turn him into a hero as being ‘persecuted’ by our justice system (reference to Engerer’s case) and plan an attack against the Judiciary.
With Jo-Jo, you never know.
Remember that the army officer who gained most from the scandalous meteoritic promotions which the Ombundsman wants to investigate, and which Minister Mallia is obstructing, is a close family friend of PM Muscat. Backing Mallia means backing a family friend.
The minister for the interior has a massively impressive posterior. Is he going to vote for the Opposition’s anti-obesity bill?
Touché, White coat. Good one.
Mallia fancies himself as Muscat’s Starace.
Saturday morning mass exercise sessions for piccoli balilla next. Or maybe not.
Mallia is also well endowed with magnificence at the front, too.
That gives him double power when it comes to voting for it.
To vote for such Mallia and have him as minister of the interior says everything about Maltese standards and expectations. Qatta hmir!
How exactly is this cost effective? Does this mean there will be a few iced buns to go around? Jobs taking care of puppies and training dogs? What will happen to puppies who are not found suitable for police work? Are there local policemen formally qualified to train dogs?
”Ziggy, a 4 year old Belgian Shepard (Malinois), will be used to commence a breeding programme for The Malta Police Force K9 Unit”
Are airfreight forwarders’ checks part of the police K9 unit work?
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-06-13/news/airfreight-forwarders-sponsor-transportation-of-police-dog-5456363520/
Finally, somebody with…guts, I would say.
Joseph Muscat doesn’t have the power to get rid of him.
When his ready, then he’ll leave.
No, don’t even think about it; you cannot impeach the ombudsman. Try Bondiistic politics. They work on some. Most probably they don’t work on men of real honour.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140614/local/ministry-sticks-to-its-guns-on-ombudsman-controversy.523352
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140614/local/pn-concern-over-unprecedented-judicial-protest-by-ombudsman.523351
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140614/local/-Ministry-hindering-quest-for-the-truth-.523250
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/40016/mallia_to_file_counter_protest_against_ombudsman#.U5x9gnZW_Cg