The newly-appointed magistrate hearing the case against disbarred lawyer Patrick Spiteri today warned that she will not tolerate any more delays in the criminal proceedings which have been dragging on since 2004.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, who has taken over the case after the retirement of Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, said she has every intention not to hold up the case longer than necessary.

Spiteri was extradited to Malta from England in May over charges of misappropriation and fraud totalling some €7.4 million.

The former lawyer has made several requests for bail, arguing that conditions in prison are detrimental to a medical condition he suffers from.

He is also arguing that he does not have access to over 400 files of documents which he needs to prepare his defence. Some of these files were held in court while the rest are stored at the accused's Gwardamangia property, which has been seized by HSBC.

The court laid responsibility for finding alternative storage on the defence: “You have to find a solution, I can’t find it for you. The accused can tell you what to look for and you find it,” she said.

Magistrate Demicoli ordered the prosecution to summon a representative of the Corradino Correctional Facility to the next sitting scheduled for October 20 so as to seek a solution.