Jimmy Magro argues new fraud charges are time-barred
Police were informed about the case in 2016, court hears
Fresh fraud charges brought against former Labour Party secretary Jimmy Magro are time-barred, his lawyers argued in court on Thursday.
Magro was arraigned earlier this week on a raft of fraud and forgery charges, aggravated because he was a public official at the time. He is pleading not guilty.
No details have been revealed about the case.
In April, Magro was separately found guilty of corruption for helping a bidder secure a €250,000 public contract for waste collection equipment in 2014. At the time, he was a special consultant to the Local Councils Association. He has appealed.
On Thursday afternoon, defence lawyer Franco Debono argued that four out of the five new charges are time-barred, meaning that the legal time limit for pursuing the action has elapsed.
He argued that fraudulent gain, forgery and making a false declaration were time-barred.
Superintendent Rennie Stivala counterargued that the main charge, that of fraud, was not time-barred.
“I understand that the prosecution did its job and this case is dependent on other proceedings which are still pending before the court,” Debono said.
Stivala confirmed that there is a witness who is facing separate proceedings and who would be a witness in these proceedings.
The court observed it will first see the evidence before determining whether the charges brought against Magro are time-barred.
The defence dictated a note raising the issue of prescription with regards to all the charges, and insisted that the prosecution should give the exact dates when the crimes allegedly took place
Stivala argued that time starts elapsing when the police become aware of the offence.
He added that the Internal Audit and Investigations Department (IAID) first presented its report to the Attorney General, and the police were informed by the AG in September 2016.
In a previous sitting, it emerged that the IAID handed the report in June 2016.
The case was adjourned to Monday.
Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil presided. Superintendent Rennie Stivala prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono, Michael Sciriha and Roberto Spiteri appeared for the accused.