Compilation of evidence against Sandro Chetcuti continues tomorrow

The compilation of evidence in the case of former GRTU member Sandro Chetcuti – who is accused of the alleged attempted murder of GRTU director-general Vincent Farrugia – has taken a completely new twist after a series of texted messages sent and received by Farrugia have become part of the Court proceedings.

Messages sent by Vince Farrugia to various sections of the press and opinion-makers, as well as contacts with a third person who indicated he would contact the Police Commissioner on the case, are being interpreted as ‘undue influence’ to inflate the scuffle with Chetcuti into an attempted murder charge against him.

A court-appointed medical expert, Dr Mario Scerri, reported that the injuries sustained by Farrugia were not of a grievous nature, contradicting evidence by a medical witness – Dr Anthony Samuel – who said that a bone scan made 11 days after the incident showed that there were slight cracks in Farrugia’s ribs.

Serious questions are being raised over the reason why this bone scan was made, when the X-rays of the ribs taken immediately after the incident showed no cracks. Medical sources said it is not normal medical procedure for bone scans to be taken on suspected rib fractures, as the result would not influence the type of medical treatment given in the case of fractured ribs.

The background of the text messages are now part of the compilation proceedings – which is even more intriguing.

The incident between Chetcuti and Farrugia was sparked off by a text message meant for Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, and which Chetcuti sent to Vincent Farrugia by mistake.

Farrugia claims that this message showed that Chetcuti – who was then a GRTU council member – was giving confidential information on the GRTU to Muscat, and an argument ensued when Chetcuti went to Farrugia’s office to explain what had happened.

Both Chetcuti and Farrugia’s mobile phones were requested by the court as part of the evidence relevant to the case.

But Vince Farrugia’s mobile phone contained text messages that unexpectedly threw a new light on the case. Among other things, these messages include exchanges between Farrugia and other GRTU council members.

In one SMS, Farrugia asked a print journalist to send him an article on the incident before publishing.

The seriousness of the implications of these text messages is confirmed by the fact that Farrugia’s son – who is a lawyer and is appearing on his father’s behalf – has requested the court to remove the text messages that are documented in the proceedings, after being drawn up by a court expert who examined Farrugia’s mobile.

This request has, however, been denied.