Government complains to Paris over procedure followed
The government has raised with Paris the matter of the procedure being followed by a French magistrate, including her request for the issue of two arrest warrants, in relation to two senior officials of the Malta Maritime Authority, according to...
The government has raised with Paris the matter of the procedure being followed by a French magistrate, including her request for the issue of two arrest warrants, in relation to two senior officials of the Malta Maritime Authority, according to diplomatic sources.
French media reports said inquiring magistrate Dominique de Talance has asked for international warrants of arrest to be issued against MMA chairman Marc Bonello and executive director Lino Vassallo.
This was reportedly done after Dr Bonello and Mr Vassallo were advised by the authority's French lawyers not to appear before the magistrate presiding over the Erika disaster investigation until appeal proceedings instituted by the Maltese government were completed.
The media reports said the Maltese authorities and officials were being investigated over the disaster, for putting people's lives in danger and for complicity in pollution.
Diplomatic sources said yesterday: "The issue has been raised through political and diplomatic channels. Obviously, the French government, as any other democratic country, keeps an arm's length from the French judicial institutions. But the government did make its position clear with the French government in a cordial manner as it would do with any other country with which it enjoys excellent relations."
The government is insisting before the French court that the two public officials cannot be summoned to Paris because Malta enjoys state immunity and both Dr Bonello and Mr Vassallo were state officials.
Dr Bonello and Mr Vassallo were advised by the authority's French legal representatives not to appear in court, on the basis that the summons did not comply with the proper procedures as established under the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, to which both Malta and France are parties.
In December, 1999, the Erika, a Maltese registered oil-tanker, sank off the coast of France spilling 10,000 tonnes of oil. More than 300,000 birds died from the pollution.