NGO Repubblika has asked for an explanation from Justice Minister Jonathan Attard after yet another laptop has gone missing from court.

Times of Malta today reports that a laptop that was exhibited as evidence in a case against a car dealer charged with money laundering has gone missing from court.

A magistrate has asked the Court Services Agency and the registrar to explain how the laptop went astray. Magistrate Leonard Caruana was due to hear the compilation of evidence in the case against Jessica Sciberras Azzopardi and Maria Attard who stand charged with aiding and abetting money laundering.

The laptop had been presented as evidence in the case against car dealer Bernard Attard who stands charged with misappropriating €1.2 million, fraud and money laundering.

In a statement on Friday, Repubblika expressed its shock, saying that the disappearance of the laptop is a grievous and worrying factor.

This is another moment when the State is failing, the NGO said. This is an attack on the administration of justice as the toold with which justice could be served are being taken away.

It said Justice Minister Jonathan Attard has a responsibility to explain what happened.

If the minister does not want to do his duty, Prime Minister Robert Abela should remove him.

We do not want a country where criminals reign, the NGO said.

In a statement, the Court Services Agency said that it is cooperating with the law courts, police and the Revision Administrative Board set up by the Justice Ministry to examine the custodial  and preservation process of items of evidence.

This is not the first piece of evidence that has gone missing from the courts.

Last month, the laptop belonging to Marsaxlokk parish priest Luke Seguna, who is facing fraud charges, could also not be found.

A mobile phone owned by former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, who is also accused of money laundering, also went missing last November and was later found in exhibits on a separate case.