Caesar
19thOctober2006, 22:25
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=240317&hilite=professor
Two arraigned over 'racist' comment incident
University don Lino Briguglio was yesterday charged with inciting racial hatred and Damien Iwueke, the man who filed the report about the case, was arraigned and accused of threatening the professor.
Magistrate Denis Montebello heard two football players, Maczerob Okoro and Uchenna Anywanna, testify that Prof. Briguglio told them to leave the building of the Foundation for International Studies as he did not want them there. One of them said that when he asked whether he was being sent away because he was black, Prof. Briguglio replied in the affirmative.
Prof. Briguglio said Mr Iwueke worked in the FIS library. He denied having sent Mr Okoro and Mr Anywanna away because they were black, but because they had nothing to do with FIS business.
"There are always black people at the FIS because people from all parts of the world attend seminars and conferences there," he said. "I asked them what they were doing at FIS, and they said I should speak to Damien.
When I asked Damien, he said it was none of my business and I then told them to leave as I wanted to make sure that people who were at FIS were on FIS business," he said.
Prof. Briguglio said Mr Iwueke threatened to kill him and his family and used foul language.
The cases continue.
Lawyer Hugh Peralta appeared for Prof. Briguglio.
Lawyer Leslie Cuschieri appeared for Mr Iwueke
Two arraigned over 'racist' comment incident
University don Lino Briguglio was yesterday charged with inciting racial hatred and Damien Iwueke, the man who filed the report about the case, was arraigned and accused of threatening the professor.
Magistrate Denis Montebello heard two football players, Maczerob Okoro and Uchenna Anywanna, testify that Prof. Briguglio told them to leave the building of the Foundation for International Studies as he did not want them there. One of them said that when he asked whether he was being sent away because he was black, Prof. Briguglio replied in the affirmative.
Prof. Briguglio said Mr Iwueke worked in the FIS library. He denied having sent Mr Okoro and Mr Anywanna away because they were black, but because they had nothing to do with FIS business.
"There are always black people at the FIS because people from all parts of the world attend seminars and conferences there," he said. "I asked them what they were doing at FIS, and they said I should speak to Damien.
When I asked Damien, he said it was none of my business and I then told them to leave as I wanted to make sure that people who were at FIS were on FIS business," he said.
Prof. Briguglio said Mr Iwueke threatened to kill him and his family and used foul language.
The cases continue.
Lawyer Hugh Peralta appeared for Prof. Briguglio.
Lawyer Leslie Cuschieri appeared for Mr Iwueke