Drugs Court planned

The ball has been set in motion for the establishment of a specialised Drugs Court which will work on the model of the Family Court, freshly appointed Justice Minister Chris Said has announced.

Although there are no set timeframes, the plan is to house this new court in the premises of today’s Family Court and move the latter to another, larger building in Strait Street.

The idea of setting up a Drugs Court was floated by rebel Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono in a private motion he filed in November, before he decided to withdraw his support for the government, threatening to topple it.

Dr Said was speaking during a visit to a project in which two buildings in Strait Street, behind the Law Courts, are being turned into chambers for the judiciary and their staff.

Nearly €1.8 million are being spent to join two old houses and build extra floors to reach a total of eight storeys, while retaining the façades of the old buildings.

Work started in March and will be completed by the end of this year.

Dr Said pointed out that this project would free up space in the law courts building, making it possible to set up new court halls there.

Law Courts director general Kevin Mahoney said the building, which has been in the making since 2000, will house 20 or 21 of Malta’s 39 judges and magistrates and their staff.

He said discussions were currently underway with the planning authority for a bridge, made of wood and glass, to connect the new chambers with the second floor of the Law Courts. The possibility of a retractable bridge is also being considered.

Dr Said said the process to install digital recording equipment in court halls is well under way with more than half already using this equipment. He said the government was looking into tapping European funds to provide training for the judiciary and court employees.