Gonzi asks judge to resign, warns that judiciary's credibility is at stake
Photo: Jason Borg
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has called on Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco to "choose the honourable path" and resign, warning him that the credibility of the entire judiciary was at stake.
"If he does not do so, the necessary procedures allowed by law would have to be taken," he said.
Asked during a PN meeting why the party was so adamant about his resignation, when so many Nationalist ministers failed to resign during this legislature, Dr Gonzi recalled the resignations of former Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and former EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana, whom he thanked for their integrity and seriousness.
When Parliament passed motions of no confidence, the people involved had resigned, he said, stressing that resignations were ensured even when he disagreed viscerally with Parliament's decision.
Judge Farrugia Sacco, president of the Malta Olympic Committee, is embroiled in an international scandal over the selling of Olympic tickets together with general secretary Joe Cassar. They have been rapped by the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission along with five other officials from Serbia, Lithuania and Greece.
Judge Farrugia Sacco has maintained his innocence.
See also:
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...
62 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
A Mercieca
Dec 10th 2012, 07:12
Why is this issue being politicised by all? Can someone look objectively at things once in this country? My view is that LFC should resign with immediate effect even from a Judge. If he is proven innocent he could be reinstated. From what I have understood so far however, I have really lost faith in all. A judge should not only be clean but also be seen to be clean.
C Muscat
Dec 10th 2012, 08:46
Gonzi ghamilha politika ghax indahal pubblikament qisu ta fuq nett jifhem f kollox. Jiena Malti u kburi u niddefendi dak kollu li hu Malti u hadd ma hu hati qabel ma jkun ppruvat.
Imbaghad ma dan qabdu qabel ghax qalu li gudikant ma jistax jghin NGO.
Taf mela l-qorti taqa ghal hama f kazi; bhal tat-tifla; hit & run; 2 xhiedha; pulizija u tghidlek ma hux bizzejjed.
Joe Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 21:26
Dear and Hon. Prime Minister, you must surely know that ''the credibility of the entire judiciary'' was lost years ago thanks to a number of factors:
- the Arrigo / Vella scandalous ''incident'';
- the ''quarrel'' between a member of the Judiciary and D.C.G. - with the accompanying ''flak'' that caused disbelief;
- the sorry state of our Law Courts which are causing the Maltese much pain.
Joe Tabone
Dec 9th 2012, 21:07
"The International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission rapped Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco last Thursday" so this is not a local political issue.
Judge Farrugia Sacco is not only MOC President but a Maltese Judge................also a representative of the Maltese Judicary!
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Dec 9th 2012, 21:03
CREDIBILITY OF WHOM?......................................do I read properly, as if I do, then most certainly Judge LFS must not even heed any calls for resignation ! Why should he in any case ? RCC is still very much involved, and WE THE PEOPLE want him out of the way, but the CORRUPT CIRCLE apparently does not.................re CMB - this is one is still involved, very much involved too, no ?
Francis Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 22:22
And if there is a n MP who should surely resign this man is Dr. Austin Gatt.
Elvin Muscat
Dec 9th 2012, 18:59
Who proved him guilty may I ask humbly ?.
B. Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 18:42
There are many more politicians in power who are more worthy to resign first and give us a good example.
Lets try and eliminate hipocracy in our beloved country
Charles Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 17:53
"warning him that the credibility of the entire judiciary was at stake"....what credibility??..The only shred of credibility the Laugh Court had went out of the window with the scandal of arrigo and vella when they were convicted for taking bribes in a drugs case!!
sacco should not be asked to resign...he should be kicked out and hauled in front of the bench rather than his sitting behind it!!
Joseph Grech Attard
Dec 9th 2012, 16:37
So it is ok for the GonziPN and the PM to judge before judgement!! Why do they critisise others who do likewise? Thismis not the first judge who has been accused of corruption! What happened to the other two who were found guilty? Are these the unfortunate three who were discovered? And they dare talk about 2 corrupt policemen during PL governments? We come, we see ... and we vote soon!
GL Calleja
Dec 9th 2012, 18:18
There is no corruption within our government like there are no gays and lesbians in Iran, and if anybody believes that, I will sell them that igloo I own in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Mr Attard they do not find us the most corrupt country in all of the EU for nothing. I don't believe that we are, but the damage is done..
Edward Mallia
Dec 9th 2012, 16:22
Just out of curiosity: who appointed Mr. Justice Farrugia Sacco to the bench?
That apart, it does seem a hair-trigger response from Dr. Gonzi. Rather like the substitution of John Dalli in his two manifestations of Minister and commissioner. On the other hand, his Ministers, seem completely immune from any sense of shame, or any itch to resign, unless booted out by Parliament.
mark borg
Dec 9th 2012, 16:08
mela il kelma rezenji qeda fil vocabularju ta gonzi ?Jew jaqaw irid ipoggi xi HABIB min flok dan l-imhallef...f lahhar 4 t ijiem ta dan ir regime ?
GL Calleja
Dec 9th 2012, 15:59
Dr Gonzi if guilty, don't tell the man to resign, do the right thing and FIRE him on the spot. People in Malta do not resign because they thing everything will be forgotten by next week, and that might be true to form. Let us start firing and stop the non resigning. On the other hand it takes a man/woman to resign on their own and it seems we have very few of those.
mark borg
Dec 9th 2012, 15:47
imma kif l-anqas tisthi ma taf gonz ? x wicc ghandek min tant nies titkellem fuq min messu jirezenja ?
Kenneth Azzopardi
Dec 9th 2012, 15:40
What credebility are you refering to the whole system does not have any credebility any more but our prime minister does not want to change the system instead he choosees to pick on individuals who all form part of a crumbling archaic system of governance.
robert pace
Dec 9th 2012, 15:28
Resign yourself as you got the country in tatters .....
C Busuttil
Dec 9th 2012, 15:23
What about the credibility of the GRTU ? or maybe because Vince Farrugia is a nationalist our PM does not ask for his resignation. No wonder many are seeing in the PN the friends of friends party. The PN has reverted back to the pre 1976 party that is, "il-partit tas-sinjur". It takes more than a Simon Busuttil to make the PN electable again, probably not even Eddie of the good old days could
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Dec 9th 2012, 15:19
As Malta was right to ask for justice on Noel Arrigo and Patrick Vella then, likewise we ask for justice on Lino Farrugia-Sacco today!
Farrugia-Sacco should not be given any preferential treatment, just because some are saying that he or his family may be involved in a political party!
Farrugia-Sacco knows what he has to do; there is no other way!
JC.
Carmel Zammit
Dec 9th 2012, 15:09
The former Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and former EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana did not resign out of their own accord. Thye were made to resign by parliament and the latter with the blessing of Dr. Gonzi even maintained the title of ambassador!!!! so tell us the whole correct story at least once dear Prime Minister.
John Zammit
Dec 9th 2012, 15:06
Dr. Gonzi The persons you mentioned that they resigned were forced to not of their own free will
GL Calleja
Dec 9th 2012, 15:02
Cut out the talking and start doing the walking. If found guilty fire them on the spot. We have to learn to protect our integrity and stop pampering and protecting people who shame us. Resigning is an easy way out for the guilty but most do not honour that fact. Why is it so hard to resign and why is it impossible to fire somebody if they brake the rules and the laws. Justice is for everyone.
Philippa Gingell Littlejohn
Dec 9th 2012, 20:33
You cannot fire a member of the judiciary on the spot. There are constitutional procedures for impeachment which must be followed by parliament.
Jay Oatmon
Dec 9th 2012, 14:50
Is this not a case of the pot calling the kettle black - nothing has been done for years about the appalling state of the courts and their incompetence and ultra slow justice?
J Tabone
Dec 9th 2012, 14:36
If the judge maintains he is innocent, shouldn't he be tried before a tribunal - or something - before judgement is passed on him and he resigns? As far as I know, in this country of ours, a person is supposed to be innocent until he is found guilty. There were other much more serious cases where resignation should have taken place - and no action was taken!
pat muscat
Dec 9th 2012, 14:21
No no no; RCC was brought in from the cold through the window. He was forced to resign and yet Dr Gonzi shot down what the Parliament legislated.
Eddy Privitera
Dec 9th 2012, 14:19
Judge Farrugia Sacco was the Judge presiding the tribunal for the Investigation of injustices, who had found the PN government guilty of hundreds of injustices committed mostly against labourites in their place of work with government or para-statal companies, because of their political opinions ! It seems this is pay-back time for the GonziPN government !
twanny borg
Dec 9th 2012, 18:17
Hallina! X'ghandu x'jaqsam? Kollox naha wahda tara.
twanny borg
Dec 9th 2012, 14:08
Veru li jekk ma jirrezenjax malta ma tibqax tkun tista' tiehu sehem fl-olimpjadi? Xjigri fil-kaz? Hawn xi hadd jghidli?
m. borg (slm)
Dec 9th 2012, 14:06
How about bringing Franco's motion of no confidence in Austin Gatt foward then we'll believe you are sincere and not playing for the political gallery.
Get real Mr Gonzi you need to clean your own house first before asking others to do so.
What a guy !!!!!!!
Tonio Bone
Dec 9th 2012, 13:56
This form of righteousness should be applied across the entire public spectrum. A Judge should not be a Judge even if there is a glimmer of doubt on his integrity, so he really should do the honourable move and walk away. If, and only if, it is found that the allegations are inconclusive, then he should be re-instated. This should apply to ALL public figures, politicians included!
jason cassar
Dec 9th 2012, 13:51
Ghaziz Lawrence Gonzi,.........KIF MA TISTHIX !!!
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 9th 2012, 13:37
Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco is OBVIOUSLY not in the "clique" and therefore not in the inner circle. The list of those who should have resigned long ago runs into hundreds ... but Judge Farrugia Sacco is the one singled out by the PM. Amazingly astounding !!!
ALBERT FENECH
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 9th 2012, 13:34
Don't EVER mention resignations Dr.Gonzi. It's not up your path. That word is taboo for the PN.
Aristide Galea
Dec 9th 2012, 13:23
Ma nixtieqx li nidħol fil mertu ta' dan il-kaz , izda jiena naħseb li l-Onorevoli Prim Ministru hu l-anqas wieħed li għandu jitlob ir-rizenji mingħand xi ħaddieħor . Tgħid kellu kazi li missu jirrizenja minħabba fihom ? Inħalli lill-poplu biex jasal għall gudizzju tiegħu .
Jeffrey Mallia
Dec 9th 2012, 13:20
So why doesn't the state take the necessary procedures allowed by law, whether he resigns or not ? Another big fish being allowed to be left off the hook.
George Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 13:08
Perhaps the Prime Minister should consider what the Chief Justice has hinted in today's papers...that the Judiciary should be given the power to discipline their own. In this way they will still be above political interference and yet capable of defending their own professional standards through self regulating and discipline.
Currently they have no power to discipline one of their own.
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 13:07
Min irid jitkellem fuq il-kredebilità!! L-agħar Prim Ministru li qatt rat Malta mill-indipendenza l-hawn!! L-iktar Prim Ministru li m'għadu jemmnu assolutament ħadd!!
Peter Murray
Dec 9th 2012, 13:06
if he was a honourable man he wouldn't require any prompting to do the right thing nor would he have been in a position to be compelled to do so?
zammit o
Dec 9th 2012, 13:03
"Gonzi asks judge to resign"
..... and what is Gonzi's position on the cases involving Rita Schembri and Vince Farrugia?
Ronnie Callus
Dec 9th 2012, 13:02
Kemm hu sabih tipponta subghajk lejn haddiehor Dr.Gonzi u lejk le.
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 12:56
Gonzi asks judge to resign???
DOES HE LOOK IN THE MIRROR IN THE MORNING ??
WELL YOUR TIME IS UP FOR YOU HAVE ONE TING LEFT TO DO THAT IS >>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtvlBS4PMF0
Chris Mifsud
Dec 9th 2012, 14:00
Dr Gonzi was not involved and found guilty in a scandal.
P.S the correct spelling is Thing and not "TING"
anthony sultana
Dec 9th 2012, 12:48
GonziPN once in a while he say some thing very good.Our judiciary system no one can understand, it is hopeless.When a case is open you never know when it is going to end.Gonzi say it is about to happen, but not for me , because it happened before and still going.
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 12:46
Kemm hu serju hux GonziPN? Nitħassru naraħ daqshekk inkwetat jien. Kos, kif isib il-ħin jinkwieta fuq il-ġudikatura u ma jsibx ħin jinkwieta fuq l-istat makabru li jinsab fiħ il-pajjiż? Is-separazzjoni fil-ġustizzja u l-intern ma tinkwetaħx lil Gonzi? Rekord ta' drogi fil-ħabs ma tinkwetaħx anqas? Oligarkija li ħakmet lill-pajjiż ma tinkwetaħx ukoll?
Il-ħuta minn rasa tinten!
E. Azzopardi
Dec 9th 2012, 12:44
The PM may be right, but then he himself should have resigned if he did not want to vote in favour of divorce, after the PEOPLE had spoken. But no, he decided to vote according to his conscience not according to the will of the PEOPLE.
Victor Vella
Dec 9th 2012, 12:44
It seems that Gonzi after some shocks comes back to his normal senses. A true image of a person living in a planet of himself. Recently somebody saw something strange in the sky. What can that be? Now one can make one plus one.
A Scerri
Dec 9th 2012, 12:33
What nonsense from Dr. Gozni as always, he hasnt even been proven guilty and already treats for his resignation are being issued. This is embarrassing and disrespectful to say the least especially seeing as it isnt even clear whether or not he is in fact actually guilty.
Willie Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 12:30
"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has called on Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco to "choose the honourable path" and resign, "
Is he serious? What nerve!!!! Why don't you say these same words to the mirror in front of you every morning?
Joseph M. Grech.
Dec 9th 2012, 12:36
Mr Grech your comment is exactly what was said by the majority of voters when Mr Mintoff remained in power with the minimum of votes!
That was a real nerve!
Emmanuel Ebejer
Dec 9th 2012, 12:49
@ Joseph M Grech
But at that moment in time the Constitution permitted Mr Mintoff to remain in power; and rightly so! Fact!
Willie Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 13:25
@ Joseph M. Grech
Are you saying that what was 'wrong' then, is becoming right now?
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 9th 2012, 13:30
@Joseph M. Grech
The real nerve is going against the constitution but with the pn it has always been what suits us!
Aristide Galea
Dec 9th 2012, 13:33
Mr Joseph .M. Grech . At that point in time , the Constitution was in favour of Mr.Mintoff and so was the majority in parlament . Contrary to today's situation when the government have no majority in Parlament , but he kept holding to power against all the decency of democracy .
m. borg (slm)
Dec 9th 2012, 14:09
Mr Grech do not play the fool, Mintoff's government was legal and constitutionally correct and nothing could be done unless change the constitution.
If the opposition did not decide to boycott parlaiment for almost 3 years it might have been government beforb 1987.
Now repaeting parrot like idiotic things.
Joseph M. Grech.
Dec 9th 2012, 14:20
@ Emmanuel Ebejer
Labour as usual preaching democracy when they mock it however and whenever they like.
Mintoff himself called it perverse and he still stuck to the chair of power 4 nearly 6 years.
Dr Gonzi is presently the prime minister constitutionally AND with the MAJORITY of people's votes.
So please do not try to excuse the historically inexcusable.
Aristide Galea
Dec 9th 2012, 14:48
At that moment in time , Mr Mintoff was governing accordiong to the Constitution and with a majority in parlament . Contrary to what is happening today , the government is holding to power without the majority in parlament and contrary to the spirit of democracy .
C Busuttil
Dec 9th 2012, 21:32
@Joseph M Grech
Not even the basics, the PN tried to remain in power in 1971 although they lost the majority of votes, through recounts and recounts of votes in a particular hotly contested seat as according to the constitution the party which obtained the majority of seats governed. In 1981 conveniently they forget about it and tried to portrait labour as usurping power.
Alfred Falzon
Dec 9th 2012, 12:25
Hon PM, the judiciary's credibility was put at stake following a number of appointments and not because of the Hon Justice Farrugia Sacco.
Mr Terry Gosden
Dec 9th 2012, 12:25
Hmmm asI recall the 2 resignations mentioned in the report were at the hands of votes of no confidence, not for noble reasons, and one of them is still serving against the 'will' of parliment. Strange selection of examples.
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 9th 2012, 13:27
My thoughts precisely.
Ramon Casha
Dec 9th 2012, 15:23
Precisely. Those did not resign, they were forced out.
Please choose the reason of your report below: