PN to seek recusal of judge in Panama Papers inquiry appeal
● Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi is husband to PL MEP Marlene Mizzi ● Chamber of Advocates rebukes Busuttil
The Nationalist Party will be seeking the recusal of Judge Antonio Mizzi, who has been tasked with hearing the appeals filed by Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi in the Panama Papers inquiry. The reason is because Mr Justice Mizzi is the husband of Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi.
Last week a magistrate accepted Busuttil’s request for an investigation on whether Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, among others, broke money laundering laws when opening secret companies in Panama. The request had also called to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. It also covers Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, Kasco Ltd employee Malcolm Scerri and former Allied Newspapers Ltd managing director Adrian Hillman. All seven have appealed the decree.
Speaking on Sunday, he pointed out that the appeal was filed on a day when the duty judge was Antonio Mizzi. “How can justice be done when the judge’s wife is a Labour MEP,” he asked.
This prompted the Chamber of Advocates to issue a press release and call on the PN leader to withdraw his comments on the judge. The chamber appealed to whoever had influence on public opinion to hold back from making comments on the judiciary.
It said it was highly concerned about what the Opposition leader said, as it throws bad light on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
“The Opposition leader should use all legal means to challenge any member of the judiciary but it is not correct that he speaks in public the way he did,” the chamber said.
“His comments are meant to put pressure on the judge in question and exceed all limits of responsibility, it added, calling for their withdrawal.”
In reply, the PN said that it respects the judiciary and will be requesting the recusal of Mr Justice Mizzi. “Since he is married to a Labour representative, it is natural that he should not be involved in the case,” it said, insisting that this was not an attack on the judge.”It is an insistence on full independence of the judiciary, which is under threat by the Labour government which is appointing prominent Labour politicians to the bench to exercise control.”
Earlier, the Opposition leader had requested Mr Justice Mizzi to hear the appeals with urgency.