The Court of Appeals has ruled in favour of Repubblika, confirming that the judicial review of the State’s decision not to prosecute senior figures at Pilatus Bank is to be hear in public.

In June 2023, the court had already decreed that the case, originally filed by Repubblika was to continue in public. The State Advocate and Attorney General had since appealed that decision.

Repubblika was assisted by Jason Azzopardi.

In a press conference on Monday morning outside the law courts, NGO Repubblika president Robert Aquilina said that the decision was a “win for democracy, transparency, and a win for citizens who need to know what is happening to keep responsible institutions in check.”

He said that the Attorney General and the State Advocate lied when they claimed that the case should be heard behind closed doors. Aquilina said that the Court of Appeal has removed their “mask.”

Aquilina went on to say that through information he has obtained with certainty, there are no ongoing police investigations into Pilatus, and the Court of Appeals decree also expressed doubts on this statement.

He addressed the Attorney General, saying that she has been caught lying, and called for her to work in favour of the Maltese public, and to change course to join the side of justice.

“They claimed that Malta is bound by international treaties and international arbitration rules... all false claims,” Aquilina said, adding that the two have been exposed.

He said that the authorities had worked against the interest of Maltese people in order to help “criminals” hide their crimes. Aquilina continued that the Attorney General and State Advocate had wasted “precious months” by appealing the sentence.

Aquilina said that the Attorney General should not be an obstacle to justice in this case, which has cost the taxpayer €11 million.

He said that the Court referred to the content of the book he released in March last year, which gave credibility to its content.