Lawyer Jason Azzopardi has called on the government to urgently introduce three criminal offences into Maltese law, arguing that the Yorgen Fenech trial has exposed serious gaps in the country’s Criminal Code.Azzopardi, appeared as parte civile lawyer in the trial against Yorgen Fenech, said there was “a lot” he wanted to say but that, for the time being, he wanted to focus on what he described as shortcomings in Maltese criminal law.He said he had witnessed first-hand the consequences of Malta not having criminal offences covering certain conduct which, he claimed, had emerged over the past two months.“There is a lot I have to say, but for now I will make an appeal as someone who has seen with his own eyes the consequences of our Criminal Code’s failure to treat as criminal offences many of the actions you have heard about over the past two months,” Azzopardi said.He pointed towards three offences found in UK law: misconduct in public office, perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.According to Azzopardi, the first two can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the UK, while assisting an offender can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.“Malta does not have them,” he said.Azzopardi argued that this gap had become particularly significant in light of conduct allegedly taking place after the murder at the centre of the proceedings.“You have heard about actions that took place AFTER the murder which, although they shocked us, are nevertheless not criminal offences,” he said.The lawyer said he had proposed the introduction of such offences on two occasions before 2022 but that the proposals had been voted down.“I hope that today you have realised just how much we need them,” he said, appealing to the government “to legislate immediately”.“Remember that the only person person subject to an investigation order is Charlie Wires, a very junior court employee,” he added.He then referred to alleged attempts to influence witnesses, claiming: “Yet apparently there is no problem if you try to bribe a witness or approach a witness to get them to testify in your favour.”Azzopardi’s comments amount to allegations and his interpretation of the evidence and legal framework surrounding the proceedings. They do not, in themselves, establish criminal wrongdoing by any individual.•