Judge's lawyers call on Chief Justice to abstain

The lawyers of one of two former judges charged with accepting bribes yesterday called on the Chief Justice to abstain from presiding over their clients' case in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

The lawyers of former judge Patrick Vella asked for the abstention in light of the fact that, in August 2002, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano sat on the Commission for the Administration of Justice held to discuss the impeachment motion against former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former judge Dr Vella, who were still in office at the time.

The two former judges are currently facing separate criminal proceedings that revolve around an incident in which they allegedly accepted bribes to reduce the punishment of drug trafficker Mario Camilleri in an appeal judgment handed down on July 5, 2002.

Two months ago, the Criminal Court dismissed a series of preliminary pleas filed by the two former judges and deferred the case indefinitely for trial.

But the two appealed this decision in the Court of Criminal Appeal presided by Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo and Mr Justice David Scicluna.

During the appeal proceedings yesterday the lawyers of Dr Vella asked Mr Justice De Gaetano to abstain especially since he sat on the Commission for the Administration of Justice, which had discussed the impeachment motion against the two judges.

Mr Justice De Gaetano put off the case for decision on October 9.

When the case of Dr Arrigo was called, Mr Justice De Gaetano ruled that in light of the circumstances the decision reached in the case of Dr Vella (regarding his abstention) would be extended to the case of Dr Arrigo.

Lawyers Toni Abela, Michael Schiriha and José Herrera represented Dr Vella while lawyers George Abela and Joseph Giglio are appearing for Dr Arrigo.