What the Sunday papers say…

The details of Saturday’s fatal explosion in a car in Marsascala rules the headlines this Sunday as all local newspapers lead with stories related to the tragedy that killed 56-year-old Martin Cachia.

MaltaToday leads with a photo showing Cachia’s burnt out red Alfa Romeo being hoisted up by a police truck. The newspaper reports that homicide is not a foregone conclusion in the death of fisherman Martin Cachia as investigators are looking into the possibility that Cachia may have been transporting explosives.

On the frontpage, the latest results of MaltaToday’s survey shows Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s trust rating at its lowest, but he still enjoys a convincing nine-point lead over Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. The gap between the two parties narrowed to three points, down from four points in June 2015 and a nine-point lead a year ago. On the backpage, the newspaper reads how the newly-launched National Film Policy places servicing and screen tourism at the fore.

Sunday newspaper Illum leads with a tribute of Martin Cachia’s daughter, saying her late father was her “hero” and said she was meant to be travelling in the same car with him. The newspaper also carries an interview with Robert Musumeci, the government’s consultant on Mepa reform, who says that he is ready to vouch for parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon over the latter’s alleged involvement in the contentious Gaffarena deal.

The Sunday Times of Malta reports that the permit issued for an outside development zone building in Siggiewi to the daughter of a minister’s consultatant is the subject of a government investigation. The newspaper also says that the European Court of Human Rights has ordered Malta to pay two Somali women €10,000 in compensation after they were wrongfully denied their right to challenge their detention.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says a considerable number of motorists have been evading road and registration tax, VRT and insurance by failing to declare vehicles imported from abroad.

It-Torca says a medical file showing the psychological treatment given to a woman was illegally leaked from the Gozo General Hospital and turned up in a marriage annulment case before being accepted as evidence by the Curia.

Nationalist news organ il-mument says yesterday’s bombing in Marsacala claimed the life of a victim of organised crime. The newspaper also says the government tried to keep secret an attempted suicide by a Syrian prisoner.

Labour newspaper Kullhadd says former PN minister Tonio Fenech tried to sell a Honda CRV car he bought from the government for just under €2,000 for €7,900. The newspaper says the Nationalist MP advertised the car for sale on a local website before removing the advert when it had been revealed that he bought the car cheaply before the general election.