10 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Relative, two friends arrested in murder probe
Gaetano Romano, the man found dead in an industrial oven in Buġibba last Thursday, appears to have been killed after “an argument got out of hand,” police sources told The Sunday Times yesterday.
Three suspects have been arrested, including a Moroccan in his 30s who is the brother of Mr Romano’s father’s wife. Two other men – a Maltese and a ‘Yugoslav’ – were close friends of the victim, but were reported to have had a number of arguments with him recently.
VAT fraud runs into millions
Millions of euros are believed to have been lost as a result of fraudulent practices by VAT department staff going back a number of years, The Sunday Times has learnt.
At least eight VAT department employees, including a pregnant woman, were arrested last Friday after a three-month investigation by police. Sources said that a number of businessmen were also being investigated.
The department was defrauded of a large sum of money during the period of investigation, though the figure is expected to rise substantially as the full extent of the crime becomes clearer.
25 years ago - The Times
Tuesday, April 5, 1994
President Mifsud Bonnici takes office
Malta’s fifth President, Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, took office yesterday vowing to uphold the nation’s trust in him.
During the sobre, and occasionally emotional, ceremony at the Palace in Valletta, President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici heaped praise on his predecessor, Dr Ċensu Tabone, offering him a tribute.
Illegal lotto costs
government up to Lm3m a year in lost revenue
Illegal gambling, costing the government up to Lm3 million a year in lost revenue, is casting a dark cloud on the future of lotto receivers, the president of the Lotto Receivers’ Union, Mr Mario Xuereb, said yesterday.
Speaking at a rally for members, Mr Xuereb said that regular lotto receivers were losing money to clandestine lotto organisers.
Wondering what was being done to curb the clandestine gambling, he said there should be more frequent police raids but it appeared that the “organisers enjoy some form of protection”.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, April 5, 1969
Large crowds watch Good Friday processions
The traditional overcast sky yesterday did not deter the majority of the Maltese from participating or watching the Good Friday processions, the climax of the Holy Week religious functions.
At Qormi and Valletta, for instance, large crowds, including tourists of various nationalities, lined the entire route of the procession.
Many people visited Qormi in the morning to see the 12 papier-mache statues exhibited in the hall adjoining the church.
Maltese seamen visit Brisbane
The modern frigate, HMS Danae, recently made port at Brisbane, Australia where she was joined by the Fleet Ausiliary vessel Tidespring. Both vessels are on an Australian and New Zealand tour.
The second-in-command of the British Far East Fleet, Vice Admiral TGF Griffin, was on Danae.
The 10 Maltese seamen serving in the frigate were visited on board by Mr A. M. Callus, the Malta High Commission Attache in Brisbane.