The Commission for the Administration of Justice said yesterday it was not investigating Magistrate Audrey Demicoli over allegations of political bias made by Labour’s former deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia.

“The fact that the commission informs itself and requests explanations regarding what may be alleged in no way means that the commission is investigating a member of the judiciary,” it said in a statement.

It added that reports in the media stating that the magistrate in question was being investigated “may mislead”.

The issue was first raised when Dr Farrugia was forced to resign last week after he accused Magistrate Demicoli of political bias during a political speech.

In the speech, Dr Farrugia referred to an Appeals Court decision to overturn a judgment by Magistrate Demicoli to acquit a restaurateur of threatening to sack an employee for not voting for the Nationalist Party.

On appeal, the restaurateur was fined €800.

The commission said it was its “duty to follow whatever concerns members of the legal profession, both lawyers and members of the judiciary, and to take such appropriate steps, where the case so requires, in accordance with its functions and powers”.