Konrad Mizzi doesn’t want to be investigated for corruption although he claims to be innocent, a judge has been told this morning as a Constitutional court upheld a request by an NGO to intervene in Constitutional case filed by minister Konrad Mizzi, in which he complains that his human rights are being breached because of a request for an investigation into corruption.
Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon heard arguments and submissions over the intervention of the NGO Repubblika in the cases filed by minister Konrad Mizzi against the Attorney General.
Mizzi's lawyer John Bonello made the claim that his client's human rights were being breached by the fact that he was being investigated. Maltese courts are mistaken when they follow decisions on procedure handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, he said.
Mizzi himself was, yet again, not present.
“The argument my clients are making is that Konrad Mizzi is corrupt and taking bribes and that he is trying to stop an inquiry which doesn’t affect his rights,” said lawyer Jason Azzopardi, appearing for the organisation.
“What we have here is only a request to intervene in the case,” said the lawyer. “The minister doesn’t want to be investigated although he says he’s innocent.”
Repubblika was allowed to intervene in another, similar, case in December, he said.
The court upheld the request on the basis of “constant jurisprudence.” Lawyer John Bonello, for Mizzi, gave notice of appeal against the interlocutory decree.
Lawyers Aaron Mifsud Bonnici and John Bonello told the court they wanted to register the intention of the applicant to request special permission to present an appeal from the interlocutory decrees about the intervention in the case.
“Look who’s talking about delays,” quipped Azzopardi. “I have no problem with facing this. Right is on our side.”
The court was similarly unimpressed. “You have to decide what you want. Either the matter is urgent or you want to appeal.”
“The ultimate objective is that they want everyone to give up. Needless to say its not going to work.” Activist Manuel Delia told the MaltaToday.
“We’re at the point where a government minister is claiming that a request that he be investigated breaches his human right,” Delia said.