Gunning for a civil servant: how very Labour of Johnny Dalli
The war on Rita Schembri, a civil servant cog in the civil service machine, has begun. Last night, Reno Bugeja shamelessly colluded with John Dalli in putting the focus on Schembri rather than on the crux of the problem, Silvio Zammit.
A photograph of her face was run large on the screen behind them, making her a target.
This morning, Malta Today’s Maltese-language paper, Illum, has carried on with this despicable strategy, running this civil servant’s face large across its front page.
And Malta Today’s online edition has done the same, making her its top story.
Are these people completely shameless? Please don’t all respond at once.
Rita Schembri is a complete unknown, an employee doing her job for the structure in which she works, and part of that job was – or so I gather – facilitating OLAF’s investigations in Malta.
The behaviour of John Dalli, Malta Today and – I’m sorry to say, Reno Bugeja last night – is the equivalent of focussing on the investigating police officers who will now be handling Dalli’s and Zammit’s files, in an attempt at intimidating them.
But perhaps that is actually the strategy.
It’s fascinating, isn’t it, how John Dalli has so much to say about Giovanni Kessler, Rita Schembri and the rest, but not even one bad word for Silvio Zammit, the man who repeatedly asked for EUR60 million in his name and dropped him in it.
And why doesn’t he have anything bad to say about him? Why doesn’t he distance himself publicly from him, or slam him or threaten him with legal action as he is threatening everyone else?
There can only be one reason: he’s up to his neck in it with Zammit, and the minute he begins slamming him, Zammit reveals all. Dalli can’t risk that. He’s a hostage to Zammit, and it’s becoming more obvious by the minute.
No number of smokescreens or distracting shots at third parties should take our concentration away from the major incriminating fact that Dalli hasn’t yet touched Zammit or shown any sort of anger towards him.
Now look at the picture below, and remember that this is on public view. Silvio Zammit uploaded it on Facebook last year. One of his associates posted the comment: “Ajma xi 3 assasini dawn”. And that’s on public view too.
Always bear in mind that this is an EU Commissioner we are talking about. Or was, when this photograph and comment were uploaded.
Anyone who thinks that this sort of behaviour does not cause concern to the EU Commission really needs to get their head examined – or emigrate to Caltanisetta.
Silvio Zammit uploaded this photograph on Facebook last year.
34 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
Let him talk his heart out. The more he does the more we can look at the small print. You are 100% right Daphne. Time will tell. ‘Il giddieb ghomru qasir’
Isn t Pieta far enough.
So who s the third guy ?
I am convinced that none of the above really knows that small fish should always avoid sharp-toothed sharks.
I always thought that the fact that Dalli does not slam Silvio Zammit is very telling.
Don’t expect a “Dalli slams Silvio Zammit” MaltaToday headline any time soon.
This is their logic.
Reno Bugeja: Ma tahsibx li mhux kredibbli li inti taf hafna lil Silvio Zammit, titkellmu fuq hafna affarijiet u mbaghad ma jghidlek xejn fuq bicca bhal din?
John Dalli: X’jigifieri… taghmilx bhall-OLAF u tahseb….
And then later:
John Dalli: U int ma tahsibx li Rita Schembri infurmat lill-OPM b’dak li kien ghaddej?
Conjecture is allowed only where he deems fit.
Logic is indeed a great indicator in this.
Let me think … if my future and the future of my family (leaving out the effects on the country, as one does) were so damaged by an individual, a circus master, offering my services without my knowledge, what would my reaction be?
Would it be to write a letter through my lawyer kindly asking him to stop?
Would it be to blame the CIA, KGB, OLAF, EU and other alphabet sooup bodies?
Or would I run to the nearest pulpit and shout that the fool was on a voyage of his own without my permission and without my knowledge?
Possibly the Imqaret vendor has some hold on him not to permit this?
If I were Bondi (which alas I am not) I would invite both on the show and let them slug it out.
John Dalli was invited to appear on Bondi+ but refused.
Silvio Zammit is not speaking to any media.
And that, La Redoute, is what blows my whistle.
I like this cartoon of how things are in Malta.
http://oi48.tinypic.com/34guhzk.jpg
By the way, I would expect Rita Schembri’s boss to jump in and defend her immediately.
Who? Godwin Grima? Ma tarax. He’s not going to want to make waves just before Labour comes in. Ma jmurx Helena Dalli taqtaghlu rasu.
No, not Godwin Grima, the PM.
She is not just any ordinary civil servant, but the head of government’s internal audit and investigations directorate.
No wonder Dalli and his cronies are doing their utmost to discredit her!
Incidentally this happens in the same week that Labour through Helena Dalli casts doubts about qualifications for posts in the civil service! Alarm bells should be ringing.
If the police want to come out with the truth, all they have to do is grill Silvio, after keeping him for 48 hours in a cell and he will sing the whole song.
@ Reno Bugeja
Mr. Bugeja, I always thought of you as a straight forward veteran journalist with a no nonsense attitude…. That is, until you invited John Dalli on your programme.
You, Mr. Bugeja failed miserably, being led by the nose by an ‘interviewee’…. A disgraced European Ex-Commissioner.
Pray I ask you, whom does this poor soul, Ms Rita Schembri answer to, John Dalli or the O.P.M.?
John Dalli may have “wajsli” influenced Mr. Bugeja at the outset, when Dalli said he had no problems meeting “serious journalists.”
Dalli also appeared to be protective of the ‘young female lawyer’ on Dissett yesterday.
See 18.20 to 19.30 here.
http://www.dissett.tv/Dissett_12_13/Dalli.html
I think Silvio’s “PR” man and DJ extraordinaire Martin Sapiano has a snippet or two he might be persuaded to contribute towards this whole drama.
The two have been regularly in each other’s company at Peppi’s for the last year and Sapiano was the first to spring up to Zammit’s defence on Facebook and give him his ‘God bless’.
Mind you, he was also the first one to delete his comments immediately the shit hit the fan. I wonder why.
They are VERY good friends.
I cannot understand how Ms Schembri and the Office of the Prime Minister feature in the shambles that Dalli has got himself into.
I am flabbergasted by Reno Bugeja’s beahviour.
He should never have allowed this lady’s name to be mentioned on his programme.
She is a private citizen doing her duty as a civil servant.
Dalli is shamelessly utilising her as chaff.
Usually Reno Bugeja stops anyone from mentioning persons who are not present on the programme ‘ghax ma jistax iwiegeb’.
This time not only did he not stop Dalli but even had a large photo of her ready in the background.
Some days ago I said that real journalists in Malta can be counted on the fingers of a partially amputed hand.
I now beg to differ.
The Dissett crew must have had Rita Schembri’s photo prepared in advance because, as soon as she was mentioned, her photo appeared in the background.
I believe the lady was also part of Dalli’s secretariat in his finance days. Also, she declared professional interest and withdrew from the Olaf discussions on the Dalli case.
Dalli is quoted as saying that what she says can’t be true.
A case for criminal defamation perhaps?
As quoted in Malta Today
“Rita Schembri was part of the ongoing investigation. She knew of the investigation in detail. Do you really believe that she did not inform anyone of what was happening?”
The more Dalli talks the more he makes me wonder.
What about the disgraceful way Rita Schembri was personally attacked by Saviour Balzan in Malta Today? Yet still no word about Silvio Zammit from Balzan.
I remember working with Rita Schembri at the Inland Revenue Dept some 15 years ago and all looked at her favourably for her professionalism and dedication in her work.
I have known Rita Schembri just before I moved to Malta and she had been instrumental to convincing me to come back here.
She, thanks to the role she has, is whiter than white.
Rita is such a benchmark when it comes to matters relating to civil service and uprightness.
She is a strong woman, so she will weather this storm well.
I haven’t seen her for years, but I am certain that knowing that she is on the right side of the law, impartial and a truly consummate professional, she will not give a flying fisk for what the jerk offs’ conjectures might imply.
I meant to say, I have known RS since just before ….
lapsus.
As things stand, if Rita Schembri comes to me and tells me she is a man and Dalli comes to me and tells me he is innocent I would definitely believe Rita Schembri.
Silvio Zammit jista jholl il-kobba kollha. Kapaci wkoll jistorr kollox jew jahbi l-verita jekk il-prezz ikun gust.
Tahseb li se jahbi l-verita minghajr prezz? Ma nahsibx li din id-darba se jitlob 60 miljun euro!! Eh x’taghmillek il-kilba ghall-flus!
Reno Bugeja was very weak during his discussion with the Ex Commissioner J Dalli, I wonder why. He normally gives the right impression that he is unbiased, but this time round he seemed reluctant to grill him.
In my opinion John Dalli was putting words into Reno’s mouth with the result that he said what he wanted to say to defend himself.