Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit has been assigned to take over the case instituted by NGO Repubblika against the Police Commissioner.

The NGO is claiming inaction by the police in prosecuting senior Pilatus Bank officials.

The case had been previously given to Magistrate Nadine Lia, with the NGO’s three requests for her recusal being turned down.

The NGO took the matter before the Constitutional Court, which ordered its reassignment.

Repubblika had called for the magistrate’s recusal because Lia is related by marriage to Pawlu Lia, who is one of the lawyers for former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The NGO also claimed that the presiding magistrate had shown hostility to the NGO and its representatives during the sitting, arguing that it would suffer irremediable prejudice were she to continue presiding over the case.

Mr Justice Ian Spiteri Bailey had ruled that the case be assigned to a different magistrate. In his 19 October ruling, the judge observed that a hostile attitude had developed between the magistrate and Repubblika, which culminated in a disagreement over what really went on during a sitting in which the magistrate had read out a threatening letter she had received and immediately exited the courtroom.

The case is now expected to start before magistrate Stafrace Zammit on November 16.

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi assisted Repubblika.