European arrest warrant sought for John Dalli

As former Maltese European Health Commissioner John Dalli remains indisposed after falling ill and now recovering in a Brussels hospital, political pressure to have him charged is said to be increasing, writes Malta Today’s Karl Stagno-Navarra. Dalli’s resignation came last October after Maltese businessman and lobbyist Silvio Zammit had been accused of bribery and trading in influence, in an alleged request for a €60m million bribe he made to influence tobacco legislation that was being spearheaded by Dalli when the latter was European Health Commissioner. Officials are now talking of issuing a European arrest warrant for Dalli, should he fail to return to Malta in the coming days. Lawyers representing Dalli have presented medical certificates to prove Dalli's inability to travel. Should the European arrest warrant be issued, he would be arrested by the Belgian police and charged before a Belgian court, which would decide for a swift extradition to Malta.