Sant privilege complaint: committee argues over procedure

The Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives was divided this evening over whether former Opposition leader Alfred Sant should have legal aid in proceedings before it over a privilege complaint.

Dr Sant had raised a breach of privilege complaint against IT Minister Austin Gatt after the minister claimed in Parliament that Dr Sant had information about the MITTS hacking inquiry and had tried to spin the story to a newspaper so as to mislead investigations. Dr Sant had immediately denied the claim.

The committee, which started hearing the complaint this evening, agreed that Dr Gatt, being the accused, should have legal aid if he so desired. The opposition, however, insisted that Dr Sant, as the complainant, should also be entitled to legal aid. The government MPs on the committee argued that this had never been done before and it could result in complications.

The Speaker, Louis Galea, said he would consult the Attorney General and communicate his decision to the two sides before the next meeting.

Earlier, Dr Galea explained that the committee was not a court which had to decide the guilt or otherwise of the accused. It had to decide if there was a prima facie breach of privilege. Should it uphold the complaint, the committee would either decide on a reprimand or refer the case to the police for prosecution in the courts.