The Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Owen Bonnici, revealed this afternoon that soon after he yesterday asked the Court registrar to confirm the reports about a party having been held in Magistrate Carol Peralta's courtoom, the magistrate himself phoned him.

Dr Bonnici said he clearly and categorically expressed his absolute disapproval over the magistrate's decision to order the arrest of a reporter who went to court to see what was going on. This arrest was manifestly illegal and abusive.

The magistrate refused to understand that his actions were wrong and continued to persist in behaviour which drew the condemnation of the people.

Dr Bonnici reiterated the government's condemnation for the organisation of the party in a courtroom. The party, he said, was held without the permission of the Director-General of the law courts.

It was simply not true that during this legislature other parties had been held in other courtrooms, Dr Bonnici insisted. That was a blatant lie.

Reacting to Dr Peralta's remark that the comments by the governemnt and the PN were insignificant, Dr Bonnici said the people's condemnation of Magistrate Peralta's behaviour was very significant as the people rightly expected the highest standards of behaviour by the members of the judiciary.

Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition condemned the magistrate's actions. The PN said the Opposition would support an impeachment motion. See videos above and below.