Magistrate Joe Mifsud abstained from hearing a case of perjury against Egrant whistleblower Maria Efimova and former FIAU investigator Jonathan Ferris on Wednesday.
He recused himself as he is also presiding over the stalled case in which Efimova is charged with having made false allegations against three police officers (including Ferris). Magistrate Mifsud said he abstained in the interest of the administration of justice due to the aforementioned situation.
Efimova used to be employed by Pilatus Bank and had claimed that Egrant, a company which was opened in the secretive jurisdiction of Panama, belonged to Joseph Muscat's wife, Michelle.
A magisterial inquiry had been called by Joseph Muscat into the matter and it found no evidence that the company belonged to the Muscats.
Then Magistrate (now judge) Aaron Bugeja had said, in the inquiry conclusions, that a perjury investigation into Efimova and a probe to uncover who had falsified documents in relation to Egrant be launched.
Joseph Muscat has reacted to this news, feeling vindicated that steps have been taken..
Ferris, a former police inspector, maintains his innocence.
When the case began being heard before Magistrate Mifsud on Wednesday, lawyer Pawlu Lia asked the court for permission to be admitted as parte civile on behalf of the Muscats.
His request was upheld.
But then the magistrate declared that he would be abstaining from hearing the case due to pending cases involving Efimova before him.
The prosecution informed the court that the evidence against Ferris was the Egrant inquiry itself.
Efimova could not be traced to be notified about the case. There is a pending European arrest warrant over the case.
The case will now return to the court registrar to be assigned to another magistrate.