Court denies Keith Schembri request on Panama scandal – PN

A court of law yesterday denied a request made by OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri for Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to defend himself in a libel case, without knowing what he was accused of, the Nationalist Party said in a statement.

Soon after he had been caught having secretly opened a company in Panama, Mr Schembri had filed a libel suit against Dr Busuttil. But, a year later, in court Mr Schembri has not said which part of the speech made by Simon Busuttil is slanderous in his regard.

Yesterday, Mr Schembri’s lawyers expected Dr Busuttil to defend himself without knowing what the accusations are, the PN said.

In its decree, the court denied Mr Schembri’s request, ruling that Dr Busuttil cannot be expected to defend himself without knowing what the accusations are.

In a reaction, Dr Busuttil said that the basic principles regarding court proceedings were being disregarded under Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. This threat to democracy and freedom has spread to the law courts, and it is therefore vital they express their disapproval in Sunday’s protest.

In a statement of its own, the Labour Party said that Dr Busuttil had refused to testify a second time because he wanted to prepare himself more.

It is clear, the PL said in a statement, that the Opposition Leader is ready to throw mud and now expects to be told what he said and was considered libellous.