I refer to recent correspondence concerning the inaction of the Maltese courts when it comes to the question of pursuing perjury. Lying in court should be regarded as a major crime. But an obvious difficulty arises: how do you grade perjury and bring action against the perpetrator? How would you define the seriousness of the case where this occurred in order to be brought before the courts?

I myself would grade as priority civil cases where children and their future lives are at emotional risk, when a parent can tell a falsehood over their ability to look after a child in order to gain material wealth, the child being a pawn. This scenario requires immediate action by the courts as a deterrent to others who are similarly minded to reap benefits from perjury.

But there is a problem for action of this kind to be brought due to a backlog of other cases in the Malta courts stretching back years. I therefore feel sure the courts will be reluctant to entertain perjury cases of any sort. Indeed, I wonder how many cases have been prosecuted over the last decade.

As a previous correspondent noted, some people do not know what it entails to take the oath or perhaps they do not know the difference between the truth and a lie. I would add that there now is a soft culture of ‘so, who cares’.