MALTA'S "BONNIE & CLYDE," WHO BECAME FUGITIVES AFTER SENTENCING BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A LEGAL LOOPHOLE, REMAIN SUSPECTS IN DAPHNE CARUANA-LINKED MURDER

                         

Fugitives JOMIC MAATOUK, and his wife, MARIZA MAATOUK, dubbed Malta's BONNIE AND CLYDE by local commentators, who fled the country whilst out on appeal bonds from their convictions, will reportedly be subject to European Arrest Warrants, according to local media in Valletta. Jomic's conviction, for attempting to purchase C4 plastic explosive, which drew a five year prison sentence, came with a ruling by the magistrate judge that he is to be considered a dangerous person. 

Both Jomic and his wife Mariza, who had received a narcotics conviction, were out on release due to a provision in Maltese law permitting defendants tried before a Magistrate to remain out of prison if they take appeals of their case. This legal loophole allows convicted criminals to evade justice by simply relocating abroad during the pendency of their appeal. Public outcry in Malta, after the couple became fugitives, has been swift, condemning both the courts and the Malta Police for allowing the Maatouks to cheat justice.

Furthermore, the usefulness of the European Arrest Warrant has been questioned, as the fugitive "Bonnie & Clyde" are said to have escaped to Serbia, which is not a Member of the European Union, and as Accession talks to join have stalled since 2009, and considering that Serbia is more or less a supporter of Russia in the Ukraine invasion, won't become a member anytime soon, they are not subject to arrest there. 

Questions remain, given Jomic's efforts to acquire POLONIUM, whether he was implicated in the death of the late British Investigative journalist BARRY RANDALL, who traveled to Montenegro to further an investigation begun by DAPHNE CARUANA GALIZIA, before her assassination, and was apparently fatally poisoned. Malta's Mafia has long been linked to the disgraced former Prime Minister JOSEPH MUSCAT. Montenegro and Serbia, both formerly part of Yugoslavia, have extensive Mafia ties. There is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

 Randall's murder has never been solved.