Prime Minister Robert Abela has defended the work of Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia, saying that attacks on the judiciary are not acceptable in a democratic society.
Abela was referring to a press conference given by NGO Repubblika this morning, during which it was said that Magistrate Lia was more interested in finding who leaked the information to Repubblika than to prosecute Pilatus bank officials.
The NGO had requested the courts to order Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa to charge people involved with Pilatus Bank. Magistrate Sant Lia rejected the request.
In a post on Facebook, Abela said the "extremist branch" of the Nationalist Party had been exposed as abusing the judicial system, and is now resorting to attacking the courts.
These are only extremists who want the courts to decide in their favour. This is not justice, but persecution, the PM said.
Once their deceit had been uncovered, they are trying to scare the police so as not to investigate them as ordered by the courts, Abela said.
Abela said his duty is to fight against the "hypocrites of rieghteousness".
The Prime Minister's reaction is totally different to the way he reacted last year, when another magistrate concluded a magisterial inquiry into the hospitals' deal. At the time, the Prime Minister had said an "establishment" was working against the interests of the Labour Party.
The Prime Minister is not immune of attacking the judiciary. In a speech in Parliament in October 2023, he had hinted that members of the judiciary are influenced in their rulings as they do not want to be subject to criticism.
Abela had also written to the Chief Justice to exert pressure on the judiciary when he complained that a magisterial inquiry, this time into the death of Jean Paul Sofia when a building collapsed in Kordin, was taking too long.
Abela has also questioned sentencing policy, asking whether judges and magistrates should be giving punishments closer to the maximum they could inflict, rather than going for more lenient sentences.
Replying to Abela’s statement, Robert Aquilina noted that after serving as a legal consultant to Joseph Muscat, defending the “fraud” of Steward/Vitals, and “incessantly attacking” the magistrate that ordered Muscat and those accused with him, Robert Abela had decided to “stick his neck out” for the “criminals” of Pilatus Bank who, despite the orders of Magistrate Ian Farrugia are yet to be taken to court by the “puppet [Abela] placed in the Depot.”
Aquilina went on to “make it clear” that he is neither impressed nor threatened by slander or threats and not worried about any investigations of the Police Commissioner in his attempt to “find those Maltese who had the courage to expose wrong-doing.” He reiterated; “When it would please you to call me for questioning at the Depot, I will come whole-heartedly. I assure you I have much to say.”
Aquilina added, however, “What I certainly will not tell you are my sources. Those who stepped and keep on stepping forward to seek justice and defend their identity and security, risking everything in the process.”