Over the last few days, we've had quite a spectacle in court.  I'm referring, of course, to the testimony given by Giovanni Kessler in connection with the proceedings being taken against Silvio Zammit, who is alleged to have traded in influence.

Given that the case against Mr Zammit remains pending, I suppose it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics insofar as they concern him.

However, the attendant dramatics, put into the public domain by the way that John Dalli saw fit to react to Kessler's testimony, requires some critique, as such things do.

It seems, quite obvious that Dalli has not taken on board the old adage of ceasing and desisting from digging when one finds one's self in a hole.

But that's his look-out, if he wants to keep drawing attention to himself rather than opting to keep out of the spotlight as much as possible, it's up to him.

That said, the question as to why Premier Joseph Muscat's government (we can't keep assuming, though the evidence is compelling, that it is exclusively Premier Muscat who governs the country) chose not to prosecute Dalli keeps raising its head, with a vengeance.

We've had testimony from former Commissioner Rizzo and his subordinates that Dalli would have had his collar felt as soon as his size nines touched the tarmac, back in the day.   

As things came to pass, Dalli was in the happy position of being the proud holder of a medical certificate of some description, allowing him to pass on the dubious pleasure of coming home to contest the charges that were ready to wing their merry way his way.

Thankfully, and coincidentally just as Rizzo was replaced by Zammit (himself eventually becoming a former Commissioner, to be followed by another soon to be former Commissioner Zammit) Dalli seems to have recovered from whatever it was that was ailing him.  

He made a triumphant return, lacking only an ass and waving palm fronds, and no charges were brought.   Why this was the case, and whether it will remain the case now that we have Commissioner Cassar in the hot seat, remains to be seen, though some kites have been flown.

It remains to be seen, then, whether Dalli's blushes will in fact be spared in the long run and whether that which Kessler testified about (and perjured himself in the process, according to Dalli) will constitute sufficient evidence to force Dalli to endure the bother of explaining himself.

Dalli might also have to explain his reported association with a cast of characters whose antics, as we can see from various stories on the media and blogosphere, would make a Netflix series to rival House of Cards, currently one of the best portrayals of cynicism and political manipulation on the small screen.

All I know is, though, is that while Dalli's blushes are currently being spared, because it seems that his behaviour doesn't merit the same level of distaste being felt in his regard by Premier Muscat's government as others have felt, mine aren't.

Not to put too fine a point on it, I'm embarrassed by what Kessler has been saying, because he's talking about people from my country and what he describes is not particularly edifying.