[attach id=242911 size="medium"]Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco.[/attach]

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco would not comment on his decision not to seek re-election as president of the Malta Olympic Committee.

The judge, who presided over the MOC for 14 years, did not submit his candidature when nominations for the post closed on Tuesday.

“I have no comment to make, especially to The Times after all the untrue things you wrote,” Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said when contacted yesterday.

He refused to entertain any question on the subject.

Last year, the judge sued The Times after it carried two reports on an investigation carried out by The Sunday Times of London into the sale of Olympic Games tickets.

The findings of the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission on the allegations made by The Sunday Times of London prompted then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to move a motion of impeachment against the judge. The motion is before the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

I have no comment to make, especially to The Times after all the untrue things you wrote

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco has long been at loggerheads with the Commission over his dual role as judge and MOC president.

The judiciary’s code of ethics prevents a sitting member of the judiciary from holding any other office, even on a voluntary basis.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com