The Malta Independent 10 February 2025, Monday
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Updated: Government is biggest obstacle to justice, PN says; Justice Ministry, PL reply

Friday, 24 January 2025, 12:30 Last update: about 16 days ago

The Nationalist Party, "with regret and disappointment", once again observes that the Government has failed justice in our country in a significant way, particularly the family of the assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The PN was reacting to the granting of bail to Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of being a mastermind behind the killing of the journalist in 2017. 

The PN, in a statement Friday, said it is clear that the responsibility for what happened today does not lie with the Court but with Prime Minister Robert Abela and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, who have done absolutely nothing to prevent this situation.

Therefore, for the PN, it is evident, now more than ever, that the Labour Government is the biggest obstacle to justice in our country, the statement said.

The PN said it is unacceptable that the relatives of victims of homicides and other serious crimes are subjected to ordeal after ordeal in their quest to obtain the justice they are entitled to. Consequently, the PN expressed its full solidarity with the Caruana Galizia family and the relatives of other victims who are enduring the same ordeal due to the Government's foot-dragging.

The PN said it believes in the principle that "justice delayed is justice denied" and promises all the relatives of victims of homicides and serious crimes that, if entrusted with the responsibility, it will implement all the necessary reforms to ensure that justice in our country is delivered, and delivered promptly.

In reply, the Justice Ministry said that the Office of the Attorney General had regularly objected to Fenech's release, and this could be seen from court procedures over the past years.

The Criminal Court, the ministry observed, had recognised that the objections made by the AG had been well-founded, but the guarantees presented by the accused were solid and offered the courts the peace of mind that its decree would be followed to the letter.

The prosecution is ready for the trial, which needs to be appointed by the judge as usually happens, the ministry said.

In a separate statement, the Labour Party said the PN has once again confirmed that its understanding of the rule of law is that of interfering in judicial processes.

The PN, now "completely led by the extremist faction" within it, is only able to come up with deeply politically partisan comments when faced by independent court decisions, the PL said.

Whilst one understands the thoughts and feelings shared by the aggrieved family, politically partisan comments made by the PN deserve only to be discarded.

The Labour Government carried out unprecedented reforms within the justice sector and shall continue to do so in the best interest of justice, the PL said.

These reforms strengthened the Court's independence and the Labour government also strengthened the tools and resources to ensure that no one escaped justice.

Every person implicated in this murder is either undergoing a judicial process or has already been sentenced, the PL said.


 

 

 


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