Weak and weaker law enforcement

The events of the past week have shown in all its ugliness the extremely weak state of law enforcement in Malta.

They show why time and again Malta fails to make the grade in many international classifications and why repeatedly Malta is getting to be classed with countries like Bulgaria and Romania as countries with a severe deficit with regards to law and order. The Ease of Doing Business classification by the World Bank year after year points this out.

The events of the past days beginning with the double murder at Sliema would most probably not have happened had the process of justice worked as it should.

The man arrested in Floriana with a gun in his hand and accused of having been part in the Sliema murders was, incredible to say, out on bail, even though he had been accused of being part of the Eur 330,000 heist at Diamonds International plus the attempted murder of three police officers in 2017.

The case is still making its tired way through the court.

A recent study of Maltese courts found that delays at court are among the longest in Europe. It takes an average 2,250 days to deal with a money-laundering case, 1,100 days to resolve a civil suit if it goes to appeal, and 1,000 days for an administrative case.

A compilation of evidence, the first step in judicial proceedings, should be concluded within one month but this timeline is rarely followed. Extensions are regularly asked for

and conceded. And the court is obliged to release a person on bail if a bill of indictment has not been issued, since a person is presumed to be innocent unless judged.

There are other rules which work in favour of the accused. Add to that the fact that Malta has one of the lowest percentages of judges/ magistrates (and one of the highest percentages of lawyers).

The end result is a huge waste of time for everyone involved, frustration all around and in many cases also a miscarriage of justice.

Then you get the police busting a gut to get their man and risking their lives when this situation should have never happened.

The man arrested in Floriana with a gun in his hand and accused of having been part in the Sliema murders was, incredible to say, out on bail, even though he had been accused of being part of the Eur 330,000 heist at Diamonds International plus the attempted murder of three police officers in 2017.

Only to see the man they have pursued skipping jail and out on bail.

And what about that derelict building on the corner where the accused seems to have found shelter – did the police pass by day and night and never asked themselves what kind of people lived there?

These are questions that need to be asked with regards to the Sliema double murder but they must be asked more with regards to the rule of law in Malta.

It is not just a question of classification but more a question of living and working in an environment where the rule of law is supreme.

At the end, business thrives where the laws are the same for all and where the playing field is level.