Last updated 11.42 a.m. with AD statement
The Nationalist Party said this morning that Magistrate Carol Peralta's position is untenable and he has no alternative but to submit his resignation.
The PN referred to comments by the Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Owen Bonnici that Magistrate Peralta had been drinking and smoking in the law courts building as well as the abusive way how he had ordered a journalist's arrest.
"In view of all this, the PN considers that Magistrate Peralta's position is no longer tenable," the party said.
His resignation would be the in the best interests of the administration of justice and to safeguard the people's respect to the judiciary, the party added.
Earlier this morning Dr Bonnici said that he considered the arrest of a Times of Malta reporter yesterday on orders of Magistrate Peralta as having been abusive and illegal because it took place when the court was not in session.
Dr Bonnici was speaking on TVAM about the arrest of reporter Ivan Martin when he tried to take a photo of a party which Magistrate Carol Peralta held in his courtroom.
Dr Bonnici said he was concerned both by how a magistrate held a party in his courtroom, as well as the arrest of the reporter.
A courtroom was not the place to hold a party, he said. Giving an example, he said he attended parties and receptions hosted by parish priests, but they were not held in churches.
This, he said, was the first and last party to be held in a courtroom under this government.
Dr Bonnici augured that the case would be investigated quickly by the Commission for the Administration of Justice because of the problem which invariable arose in such cases over whether a magistrate should continue to hear cases in the meantime, particularly when people accused of breach of public order appeared before him.
The Times of Malta reports today that when the reporter arrived at the scene when the party was winding down, shortly before 4pm, and attempted to take a picture of the event through the court room port hole but was stopped.
A court usher tapped the reporter on the shoulder and warned him that he was under “court arrest” and escorted him into the hall.
The magistrate emerged from his chambers, holding a drink and, with slurred speech he hurled insults, describing the journalist as “scum” and a “parasite of society”.
Swirling a drink in his hand and smoking a cigarette, he asked for the reporter’s name and details, which were given to him, and then asked for the reporter’s phone, which was not handed over. He then ordered his arrest and the police were called in.
MAGISTRATE TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
Magistrate Peralta is to hold a press conference at noon at his residence.
AD JOINS CALLS FOR RESIGNATION
Alternattiva Demokratka also called for Magistrate Peralta's resignation.
"People abusing of their power in this way cannot be impartial members of the judiciary. Carol Peralta should simply resign with immediate effect. If he continues sitting in judgement, people might start believing that it is Villa Blye that dictates things in Malta and not the democratically elected representatives of the people," AD chairman Arnold Cassola said.
More on the case in the Times of Malta and timesofmalta.com Premium.