Two years ago former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former judge Patrick Vella had been charged with receiving money from convicted drug trafficker Mario Camilleri to reduce his prison sentence by four years after a jury had found him guilty.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona yesterday continued to hear evidence in the case against the former judges.

The case continued after the court refused a request by the defence to stop proceedings while the judges’ case is being heard by the European Court of Human Rights.

The prosecution rested its case during yesterday’s sitting and declared it had no more evidence to present.

In the meantime, the case has been sent to the European Court of Human Rights where the defence is claiming that the former judges’ right to a fair trial has been breached.

Dr Joseph Giglio, Dr Toni Abela and Dr Ian Farrugia appeared for the accused.