Trial of former chief justice: Dr Arrigo's son testifies

Former chief justice Noel Arrigo had told his son Alexander not to give people who might go to speak to him about a court case any encouragement.

Testifying in court in the trial of his father, Mr Arrigo said Anthony Grech Sant was his godfather and he knew Joseph Zammit, known as is-Sei, because he was from Valletta.

The former Chief Justice is being charged with bribery and trading in influence in a case that has already seen former Judge Patrick Vella being jailed for two years for accepting €23,000 to reduce the jail term of drug trafficker, Mario Camilleri, also known as L-Imnieħru, from a 16-year-jail term to 12 years. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial started on Wednesday before Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo.

Mr Grech Sant allegedly acted as the middleman. Joseph Zammit, known as is-Sei, was jailed for two years in 2006 when he admitted his involvement in the case.

Mr Arrigo said that Mr Zammit had once asked him for a sponsorship of a football tournament. He gave him the sponsorship but went later to tell him that it never happened.

Mr Arrigo said he spent about two hours with Mr Zammit and at the end asked him if he could one day speak to his father.

Assuming it was about a court case and remembering his father’s warning, Mr Arrigo asked Mr Zammit for his number, not because he wanted to give it to his father but to end the conversation and get rid of him.

This is an ongoing update of the trial. More information will be uploaded throughout the day.