No deal for disgraced judges
Noel Arrigo who was found guilty of bribery.
Members of the judiciary who have resigned will not be entitled to new pension provisions being proposed by the government, The Sunday Times has learnt.
According to a draft law, serving and former members of the judiciary will be entitled to an uncapped two-thirds pension upon reaching retirement age. However, it will not apply to those who departed earlier for whatever reason.
Sources said this proviso in the draft Bill is intended specifically to prevent the two disgraced former judges, Noel Arrigo and Patrick Vella, who had been found guilty of bribery, from benefitting from these reforms.
Part of the deal struck between the government and the judiciary involves the introduction of a service pension to the judiciary aimed at improving their overall financial conditions.
Currently, retiring judges a normal national insurance pension, which amounts to some €14,000 a year.
Under the proposed amendments, sitting and former members of the judiciary will start receiving an additional second pension over and above their current national insurance pension.
Judges and magistrates are set to receive uncapped pensions. This means they will receive two-thirds of their actual salary.
This reform will put the judiciary on par with Members of Parliament and ministers, the only sections of society granted the privilege of receiving a second pension.
The reforms include an increase in the retirement age to 68, the holding of sittings in the afternoon and the introduction of an appointment system for all cases.
The agreement is, however, still awaiting the green light from the opposition, which has not yet discussed the proposals.
Labour’s justice spokesman Jose Herrera criticised the holding of afternoon sittings, mirroring objections from the Chamber of Advocates.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
49 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Tony Borg
Aug 27th 2012, 09:17
This is so to say a big thank you for the rubbish they are leaving running around on our streets.
Suspended sentences
Bribery cases
minimum sentences for drug rings
Long time for sentences
Age long cases
and now ever low profile strikes too.
Very well GOV!
Paul Caruana
Aug 27th 2012, 09:08
This will open the floodgates, in that other top civil servents will start to demand, not unreasonably, the same treatment!
I think it would be fairer if we ensured that any honest hard working worker, who has paid the required minimum of 40 years of NI contributions, would have access to a decent miminum pension, once he reaches his pensionable age. People employed with high salaries would have had the opportunity to invest in a private pension during their working life, had they desired to do so.
Silvan Said
Aug 27th 2012, 08:40
Isn't this going to open the door to abuse where practicing lawyers will try to be appointed on the bench as they near retiring age in order to get their pension uncapped?
Wenzu Vella
Aug 27th 2012, 08:32
Skond lilment ta hawn taht u bir-ragun, had ma qabel ma din iz-zieda lil min tiga qieghed imhallas tajjeb. Tiktbu fi Times biss mhux biz-zejjed jekk ma tip-protestawx fit toroq ukoll. Wara kollox iz-zieda li se jiehdu tigi mit-taxxa li jhallas il haddiem.
S Portelli
Aug 27th 2012, 08:15
So probably a number of people pay as much tax and ni to government more than these members of parliament and magistrates but do we receive a second pension? We had our tax to be reduced from 35% to 25% but where is this decrease? Thanks Gonzi PN
Malcolm Mifsud
Aug 27th 2012, 07:47
My, how tough we've become
E. Azzopardi
Aug 27th 2012, 00:15
Congratulations. This is very good indeed. But aren't all CITIZENS the same? What is the problems with us, the other lot?
John Mifsud
Aug 26th 2012, 20:13
Imisshom jisthu l-parlamentari kollha jekk jafu jisthu. Ara xi haga hekk, li jircievu zewg pensjonijiet, malajr jaqblu.
Allura ighduli sinjuri parlamentari, ma' tahraqkomx qalbkhom ghal dawk il-koppja pensjonanti li jridu jghaddu erba' gimghat b'xi 600, 700, jew 800 kull xahar?
Ghalhekk ghandha flus il-kaxxa ta' Malta.?
U Halluna!!!!!
twanny borg
Aug 26th 2012, 19:32
nahseb il-gvern ta' gonzi ahjar jgholli il-paga minima milli jzied lill-gudikanti inkella se jkun il-pl li jaghmel dan bi hsara kbira lill-pn. mhux bizzejjed hawn min qed ihaddem nies bi euro 3 fis-siegha.
A Spiteri
Aug 26th 2012, 17:01
SHAME...they should for it's meaning in a dictionary before they even make any requests!
Salvino P Zammit
Aug 26th 2012, 19:50
Sorry, they have to pay for their mistakes- Everyone is the same when dealing with the laws of the country.
Christopher Bugeja
Aug 26th 2012, 16:26
These 2 disgraced judges should forfeit their pensions never mind not being eligible for the reforms.
I can't believe they're entitled to pensions at all!!!
vincent Lia
Aug 26th 2012, 15:17
Confused by 'uncapped', if it is two thirds of salary it is capped to that ammount, I understand it. Who is paying for this extra pension? Are they going to pay contributions? If a judge only works as a judge for a few years will he or she get the same amount of pension as one that worked more years? Are you saying that they must work as a judge till age 68 and cannot retire before for any reason? If the new rule applies for newly retired judges how is this stopping 'disgraced' judges from affecting them? They are not judges any more so how can this affect them or is it just to add words?
Francis Attard
Aug 26th 2012, 15:09
If the judiciary, ministers and members of parliament deserve a second pension, what do people who do voluntary work with those in need deserve?
L. Calleja
Aug 26th 2012, 15:07
Iif this draft law was actually intended for the 'disgraced judges' then it is an insult in itself since what is being forgotten is their valued service and knowledgeable hard work prior to their misdoings. They should not be denied the same pension due to one failure. They have already paid their price. Why persecute them further.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 26th 2012, 16:30
A criminalalso is divested of most of his rights. so what is special about a magistrate/judge that has gone bad.?
Anthony Pace
Aug 26th 2012, 14:46
I fail to see the reasoning behind the resignation issue. People can resign for a number of reasons. Perhaps MPs who resign should be prevented from getting 2/3 pension rights such as Mintoff did and KMB and EFA and loads of others? To aim the issue at just two indivisuals is disgraceful.
GL Calleja
Aug 26th 2012, 14:45
Imsieken...No SUSPENDED SENTENCE for these hard working judges and magistrates? It seems that the rich work for the riches and down with the rest of us.
ALFRED BRIFFA
Aug 26th 2012, 14:34
Bhal tal-konsulenti ta' Mater Dei din li ma jahdmux wara nofsinhar. Shame by the two most powerful professions in Malta!
Nazzareno Cortis
Aug 26th 2012, 17:30
Alfred-----ghandek zball----dawn wara nofs inhar----jahdmu privat u jdahhlu gelgul jbir ta ewros-----tax free!!!
J Martinelli
Aug 26th 2012, 14:06
Upon reflection and reading comments below, I cannot but wonder at the talent of the Maltese gemgem.
On any particular issue they (we) tend to be:
Experts in politics, whose opinions change depending on which Party governs or is in Opposition,
Legal geniuses, who criticize every sentence meted out by the courts,
Architects par excellence, who don't like Renzo Piano, in particular,
Doctors and specialists who yearn to improve Mater Dei services,
Energy consultants with varying opinions about the Delimara extension, winds farms, solar energy, etc.,
Environmental experts, for or against Sant'Antnin, rehabilitation of Maghtab and similar projects,
Financial whizzes who know more about finances than the minister who kept Malta floating unlike others,
Theologians who quote favourite Bible passages while they condone divorce and promiscuous relations,
Historians who rewrite history in order to please the widest band of the political spectrum and sell their books.
My apologies if I missed some experts in a specialized field.
With such talent, why do we even need politicians? Why not do like Gaddafi was reputed to do when needing to reach a decision? Hold street corner meetings and let the 'expert mob' decide and let chaos reign.
GL Calleja
Aug 26th 2012, 16:29
" With such talent, why do we even need politicians? " Actually we do not. Couldn't resist that one.
Alfred J. McEwen
Aug 26th 2012, 18:27
Alfred J. McEwen
It`s called expressing an opinion Mr. Martinelli, and opinions tend to criticize a rather wide spectrum of topics, some opinions are justified, others are not, but everyone has the right to express them. One thing for sure,. the way this country is being run at the moment is beyond a joke and the and one does`nt have to be a rocket scientist to work that out. The present administration are too ``up themselves`` to stand being corrected, and do their utmost to try and ``flannel`` the public in various ways, some people however refuse to be duped, and see through the `spin` most politicians tend to create. Seemingly, you seem to under estimate the intelligence of the general public who quite rightly, are very concerned about the way this country is run and hence, express their opinions accordingly. Oh incidentally....I for one am so glad that you had the presence of mind to include the word (WE) to express any particular issue
Alfred Vassallo
Aug 26th 2012, 13:09
Hekk sewwa iktar ma johorgu sentenzzi XIERQA mil qrati iktar il gvern jitfa il melh fuq il ferrita.
Joseph Sammut
Aug 26th 2012, 13:08
How about doing something to better the overall financial conditions of the common man in the street? What blatant discrimination!!!
Kenneth Grima
Aug 26th 2012, 13:07
Money no problem hux for the ones more equal then others, but we are still equals hux. Shame Shame Shame. Flus ma hemmx ghal min ghandu bzonn ghal min ghandu inkomplu nfawrulu butu u ghal liema servizz imbaghad?nahdmu nofs ta nahri u kawzi ilhom pendenti l-ghexiren ta snin. Dan hu il-mod kif qeghdin inraznu l-infieq Mr.L.Gonzi u Mr.Tonio Fenech prosit tassew komplu sejjrin hekk u aghar mil-Grecja ha nispiccaw.
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 26th 2012, 12:16
Well, the members of the judiciary who have 'resigned' are in good company. All the other tens of thousands of pensioneers, in fact.
j brincat
Aug 26th 2012, 12:14
@Antonia Vella
"Tajjeb min ha 1.16 euro u min l-eluf prosit veru mhucx gvern tal haddiem dan"
And did it ever cross your mind that this is really a 'gvern tal-haddiem'?
(jb)
John Vella
Aug 26th 2012, 12:06
It seems that in this country if you want a wage increase you either under perform in your duties or else wait for the company you work for to almost go bust...... then as for a wage rise!................Needless to say private companies excluded!
Antonia Vella
Aug 26th 2012, 11:30
Tajjeb min ha 1.16 euro u min l-eluf prosit veru mhucx gvern tal haddiem dan
Johnny Xerri
Aug 26th 2012, 13:20
people get the govt they deserve...
there is no money for the normal citizens wage increase..but there is enough for Cabinet members and for judges...
just shows that gone-zi is simply buying time to please as many people as possible in the slim hope of being re-elected...
but i'm happy coz my wage is high enough...and as a hunter who suffered a lot...i am delighted that others to are suffering...
john muscat
Aug 26th 2012, 15:06
Lanqas qatt m'ghandu jigik dubju, lil haddiem qatt ma hamlu.
Josephine Muscat
Aug 26th 2012, 19:24
Of course why not, why should Government be forking out any money to those who register and work at the same time, to those who operate a lack market economy, to those who play their cards as if they are paupers when they have two villas two boats and five cars.
I fully agree that gov should give more to the judiciary and professors at hospitals so that we can have a better court of law and a better service at hospital!
Toni Borg
Aug 26th 2012, 11:27
If no afternoon sittings are held how is efficiency expected to increase???
A Caruana
Aug 26th 2012, 13:45
Ezatt, yal inqas taz zieda ghandhom iziedu il hin tax xoghol u il kazi jsiru bil hin, mhux kullhadd jkollu jmue fid 9am u jahli nofs ta nahr il qorti ghall xejn. Jmisshom jaghmlu sistema ta appuintamenti bil hin ie 9am, 10am, 11am, Jaghtu break u jergaw jkomplu 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. Mela jiehdu iz zieda ta xejn?
Michele Xuereb
Aug 26th 2012, 11:16
"Sources said this proviso in the draft Bill is intended specifically to prevent the two disgraced former judges, Noel Arrigo and Patrick Vella, who had been found guilty of bribery, from benefitting from these reforms."
I should blooming well hope so!!
Meanwhile how about us lesser mortals? What's good for the goose is good for the gander. How about all that useless talk about upping the current ridiculous pension ceiling? Has that got us anywhere at all?!
M Farrugia
Aug 26th 2012, 11:16
Jiena li ghamilt 40 sena nahdem, inhallas il-kontribuzzjoni tal-I,N., inhallas it-taxxa sa l-inqas sitt habbiet, niehu penzjoni fuq bazi li giet iffissat mill-GVern. Meta jsiru dawn l-affarijiet certa sezzjonijiet jibdew jinghataw penzjonijiet differenti hija diskriminazzjoni kbira, ghax li qed jigri hija aktar ma ghandek aktar naghtik u naqas ma ghandek ghanqas naghtik. Din hija diskriminazzjoni grassi. Tahdem x'tahdem, kull xoghol huwa importanti fil-hajja u ghalhekk ma ghandux isir dan.
Anthony Grech
Aug 26th 2012, 14:41
Farrugia you are 100% correct.
j brincat
Aug 26th 2012, 10:57
Some special citizens are more equal than the rest.
And we thought or made to believe that we live in an equitable state!
(jb)
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 26th 2012, 10:48
My 1 euro 16c cents cost of living raise gets smaller every day.
Joe Scerri
Aug 26th 2012, 10:34
uncapped two thirds pension, just like our beloved MP's. Morru capcpulhom.
Henry Farrugia
Aug 26th 2012, 10:58
Rightly said. I have the gut feeling that the next general elections will be boycotted by many individuals, from both parties.
Lino Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 13:55
"Ghati, kbir Alla, id dehen lil min jahkimha, rod il-hniena lis-Sid, sahha lill-haddiem. "
But till now we have been giving more "sahha" for the politicians, and God granted them more "deheb" than "dehen", the fact that they decide alone what to do with our money, we have been experiencing less power to the workers, we have no right to know what is going on not even by asking parliamentary questions. piarlament being the hieghest [sic] Institution.
Now the same workers are no longer united. Look at them, they join a quorus of selfish voices which only shouts against the progress of an other group and not to support others when they are fighting for some improvement, this only makes the politician even stronger and more insensitive.
Look at most people connected to the big political parties, some ex Ministers, ex secretaries, some ex canvasers etc now involved in big companies or occasionally seen on mega sailing youghts with millionaires.
Paul Caruana
Aug 26th 2012, 10:32
Can someone please clarify....would they keep on receiving 2/3 of the salary given during their last year of service,excluding allowances but including the yearly cost of living increase, or will they every year have their 2/3 pension adjusted so as they would in fact receive 2/3 of the current equivalent salary of a judge/magistrate for any given year?
And by the way, which of the above two options holds for MPs?
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 26th 2012, 10:50
@Paul.
Either way it's a xalata on our taxes thanks to the Genius Gonzi.
Francis Sammut
Aug 26th 2012, 12:17
Yes, every year the MP's and now the judges and magistrates will have their two thirds pension adjusted according to what say an MP/minister/judge/magistrate will get on any given year. For instance when Dr. Gonzi gives himself a raise that raise would affect Dr. Fenech Adami's pension in a positive way! Now on the same way, judges and magistrates are going to be on par with MP's/ministers. And MP's and now the judiciary are not the only ones who receive a second pension. Many employees with the government, the police and army among them, also receive a second pension. The difference in this case is that while all others pension is capped, MP's/ministers pension is uncapped, meaning they get the full two thirds of the global sum earned yearly and not two thirds of the basic pay as is the case of all pensions received by the rest of us. This is ''Animal Farm'' for you!
A Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 10:24
If their pension is uncapped, shouldn't their NI contributions also be uncapped and with backdated effect? And why should some animals be more equal then others?
J Degabriele
Aug 26th 2012, 10:47
Some animals have always been more equal than others.It's the name of the game!
M Farrugia
Aug 26th 2012, 11:21
Taghmel li dwar din il-kwistjoni il-labour party- il-partit tal-haddiema, il-GWU, MUT, MUMN, u mitt union ohra jitkellmu dwar din l-ingustizja. Jekk ma isemmux lehinhom kontra dawn il-proposti allura ma jixraqilhomx jissejhu unions jew partit li huma tal-haddiem. Il-paroli tal-faqar li nisimu ta kuiljum allura kulma jkun duhhan u paroli fil-vojt. Il-haddim mhux paroli irid dwar is-salarju tieghu u l-penzjoni tieghu imma azzjoni u mhux diskriminazzjoni.
Please choose the reason of your report below: