CEDH · PRESS;HEARINGS;ENG — 13 janvier 1999

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s23A41E03 { width:36pt; display:inline-block } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .sD35C6159 { width:1.54pt; display:inline-block } .sF9A986A5 { width:12.2pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s4598CDF { width:70.9pt; display:inline-block } .sBA8DCCFC { width:35.45pt; display:inline-block } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     10   13.1.1999   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASES OF AQUILINA AND T.W. v. MALTA   Wednesday 13 January 1999 at 3 p.m.     The applicants     The first case concerns an application (application no. 25642/94) brought by a Maltese national, Mr Joseph Aquilina, who was born in 1974 and lives in Malta. He is a handyman. The second case concerns an application (no. 25644/94) brought by a United Kingdom national, T.W., who was born in 1943 and also lives in Malta. He is a storekeeper.   Summary of the facts     The applicants were arrested, on different dates, on suspicion of having committed offences involving sexual acts. Each was brought within forty-eight hours before a magistrate and applied for bail. Their applications were communicated to the Attorney General who opposed them. The bail applications were then examined by different magistrates from those before whom the applicants had appeared initially. Mr Aquilina’s application was allowed and he was released twelve days after his arrest. T.W.’s application was refused four days after his arrest. He was released fifteen days later.   Complaints     Both applicants complain of a breach of their right to be brought promptly before a judicial officer with power to release them, a right guaranteed under Article   5 § 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. T.W. also complains that his right to a habeas corpus remedy under Article 5 § 4 of the Convention was infringed.   Procedure     Mr Aquilina’s application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 7 July 1994. T.W.’s application was lodged with the Commission on 2 November 1994. Having found the applications admissible, the Commission adopted its reports on 4 March 1998 in which it, unanimously, expressed the opinion that there had been a violation of Article   5 § 3 in both cases. In the case of T.W. it also expressed the unanimous opinion that there had been no violation of Article 5 § 4. The Maltese Government brought the cases before the old Court on 31 July 1998.   Composition of the Court     Under the transitional provisions of Protocol No. 11 to the Convention, the case was transmitted to the Grand Chamber of the new European Court of Human Rights on the entry into force of the Protocol, on 1 November 1998. It will be heard by the Grand Chamber composed as follows:   Luzius Wildhaber   (Swiss), President , Elisabeth Palm   (Swedish), Antonio Pastor Ridruejo   (Spanish), Giovanni Bonello   (Maltese), Jerzy Makarczyk   (Polish), Pranas Kūris   (Lithuanian), Riza Türmen   (Turkish), Jean-Paul Costa   (French), Françoise Tulkens   (Belgian), Viera Strážnická   (Slovakian), Peer Lorenzen   (Danish), Marc Fischbach   (Luxemburger), Volodymyr Butkevych   (Ukrainian), Josep Casadevall   (Andorran), Hanne Sophie Greve   (Norwegian), András Baka   (Hungarian), Snejana Botoucharova   (Bulgarian), judges Margarita Tsatsa-Nikolovska   (FYROMacedonia), Luigi Ferrari Bravo   (Italian), Rait Maruste   (Estonian), substitute judges   and also Michele de Salvia , Registrar and Paul Mahoney , Deputy Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Anthony Borg Barthet , Agent , and Lawrence Quintano, and Silvio Camilleri, c ounsel ;   Applicants:   Joseph Brincat , counsel , assisted by Brian Berry     After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.     Subject to his duty of discretion, the Registrar is responsible under the Rules of Court for replying to requests for information concerning the work of the Court, and in particular to enquiries from the press.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contact: Roderick Liddell Telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92; fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91