The managing director of Chinese manufacturing firm Leisure Clothing has been granted permission to attend a business meeting in Italy, against the recommendation of the Attorney General's office, which came under fire by a magistrate for "failing to see the bigger picture". 

Magistrate Carol Peralta severely chastised the AG's office for objecting, for the third time, to a request filed by Bin Han, 46, to travel to Italy to attend a business meeting accompanied by the company lawyer, Pio Valletta. 

"How can it be that the AG continues to stop a managing director of one of the main manufacturing companies in Malta on which the Maltese economy depends from attending a business meeting?" the magistrate said. 

Clearly showing that he was irked by the objection, Magistrate Peralta went against the AG's wishes and granted Mr Han permission to travel, limiting the voyage to Italy and ordering him to deposit his passport again in the acts of the court once he returned. 

His application to travel was brought up during the compilation of evidence against Mr Han, 46, from San Ġwann and marketing director Jia Liu, 31, from Birżebbuġa, who are charged with human trafficking and the exploitation of Chinese and Vietnamese workers at Leisure Clothing. They are pleading not guilty.

The magistrate, however, told Mr Han about the consequences should he fail to adhere to the conditions: "Notwithstanding the opposition of the AG, which is clearly not seeing the bigger picture and only has one thing in mind, the court is taking the chance and allowing you to attend this meeting. You could very well not come back to Malta but I think you have sufficient intelligence to know what the consequences would be for yourself and for your company."

In a previous court sitting, the court heard that while Leisure Clothing employees were paid €70 a month for six 14-hour days per week, Mr Han received a performance bonus of €30,000 a year.