Opposition MP Beppe Fenech Adami this evening called for the removal of Judge Farrugia Sacco, saying that the judge’s refusal to resign from the Malta Olympic Committee, despite being warned many a time, is unacceptable.

Turning to Magistrate Carol Peralta, he reiterated that the PN will support the removal of the magistrate.

The Commission for the Administration of Justice has been asked to investigate Magistrate Peralta after he allegedly held a party in his courtroom and for ordering the arrest of a Times of Malta reporter who went to see what was going on. The magistrate had also called the reporter, Ivan Martin, a parasite, accusing him of being sent by a blogger to spy on him.

On Judge Farrugia Sacco, Dr Fenech Adami said that a year ago a motion had been presented by then prime minister Lawrence Gonzi for the removal of the judge since the judge’s acts had breached the codes of the statute.

He said that a report had been presented by the Administration of Justice and instead of discussing the report, parliament had sought advice leading to the procedures having to start afresh, delaying the procedures for his removal.

Judge Farrugia Sacco reaches retirement age in August but due to the fact that procedures are to start once again, this may see the judge retiring before facing an impeachment, an issue which has been harshly critcised by the opposition who accused the government of using tactics to delay the process.

The opposition had also accused the prime minister of failing to keep his word, since it argued that despite having vowed that he would listen to the advice of the administration of justice on Farrugia Sacco, "he did not".

Dr Fenech Adami also condemned Magistrate Peralta for his alleged involvement in what he described as a secret society, that of masonry.

He said masonry is immoral and kills the democratic process of a country.

Parliamentary Secretary Owen Boonici said that the process for the impeachment motion is to start again due to the fact that the Speaker of the House was advised that Judge Farrugia Sacco’s case is “dead” since the person who presented the motion against him, Dr Gonzi, is no longer an MP.

The Adminstration of Justice had found prima facie that the judge breached the ethics of the judiciary.

Government whip Carmelo Abela, in his reply to Dr Fenech Adami’s statement on Judge Farrugia Sacco, said that the Speaker of the House gave a ruling, whether or not the two sides agreed with it, and both the government and the Opposition had to accept it.