The Contractor Who Tried To Run Over A Gżira Councillor ‘Will Face’ Attempted Murder Charges
A contractor will be charged with the attempted murder of a G?ira local councillor who he tried to run over on Thursday, Lovin Malta is informed.
Sources familiar with the case have revealed that the Ivan Stivala was the contractor who was filmed trying to run over Jeremy Cardona, a PN councillor who was vociferous in his criticism of overdevelopment in his hometown.
The Malta Developers Association, whose secretary Michael Stivala happens to be the contractor’s brother, has played down the attempted murder as a ‘personal tiff’.
However, Lovin Malta is informed that Ivan Stivala will be facing court charges over the incident. The charges come after Ivan Stivala and his brother Michael were interrogated at the G?ira police station on Thursday night.
Michael Stivala spoke on behalf of his brother during the interrogation, saying the Stivala Group he runs had made G?ira a better place through their construction. The police inspector reminded Michael Stivala they were there to discuss the attempted attack with his brother’s car, and Micheal Stivala then apologised for his brother’s actions.
He said his brother had made a mistake and was distracted (“?a ?ball u kien g?aljenat”).
Counciller Jeremy Cardona
Michael Stivala, the brother of Ivan Stivala
“If I hadn’t ran I would have been hit and run-over”
Councillor Jeremy Cardona explained how Thursday’s attack went down from his point of view.
“I was walking home from work, near the Bayview hotel which happens to be one of Stivala’s hotels, and he was there and he noticed me passing by, and he peeped the horn at me,” Councillor Jeremy Cardona said to Lovin Malta.
“When I looked back I didn’t notice who it was because I hadn’t noticed who was there and I kept on walking. As soon as I was going to cross the road I stopped to see if I could pass. This car drove up and stopped, and the driver made a movement with his head indicating I could pass, so I moved to cross the road, and then I noticed that he had hit the gas and was attempting to run me over,” he said.
“I had actually told him thanks with my hands for stopping for me… If I hadn’t run I would have been hit and run over,” he said.
Councillor Cardona, who regularly posts on social media criticising overdevelopment in G?ira, said he assumed he was attacked due to his sharing of resident’s photos and concerns on Facebook. He regularly uses the hashtag #g?iratowercranes – and Ivan Stivala had even commented recently on one of his statuses.
Councillor Cardona is known to criticise overdevelopment in his hometown
The Stivala Group has been at loggerheads with the G?ira local council over allegedly breaking laws in relation to a construction site in Henry Bouverie street. Stivala Group would regularly close the road and continue construction work beyond 5pm, breaching local laws and regulations.
The Malta Developers Association confirmed with Lovin Malta that Ivan Stivala was not a member of their association.
A protest in solidarity with the councillor has been planned for Tuesday 5th June in G?ira
Following the recent attack, the G?ira local council has decided to shut its doors.
“Yesterday we held an urgent meeting with the council and out of solidarity we are going to close the local council for three days. There is going to be a protest on Tuesday 6:30pm in Sir Patrick Stuart Street, G?ira,” said Mr Cardona.
He said that since the attack he has received nothing but support from his fellow councillors, and thanked the Mayor and the councillors for their encouragement and continued support.
Many people have criticised the attempted attack on the councillor’s life, with MEP David Casa saying “the culture of impunity has well and truly set in”.
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