Justice Minister Owen Bonnici yesterday fiercely defended his government’s decision to leave an impeachment motion against Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco on the back burner until he extinguishes all his legal rights before the courts.

However, the legal procedures instituted by the judge will not be concluded before he retires with full pension rights on August 22, and the motion in front of Parliament will then automatically become null and void.

Questioned by Times of Malta, Dr Bonnici said while he understood that the case highlighted the need for a faster way to deal with similar situations, the government could not risk breaching the fundamental rights of any member of the judiciary.

“We used a prudent stance in this case,” Dr Bonnici said.

Read more on Times of Malta.

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