Justice Minister Owen Bonnici today defended himself from accusations that amendments to the witness protection programme were passed “underhandedly”, saying these changes were passed through Parliament in a transparent manner and accepted also by the Opposition.

Dr Bonnici was reacting to comments by criminal lawyer Joe Giglio who yesterday accused the government of passing laws to benefit the prosecution after an alleged accomplice in a double murder case was granted a ‘pardon’ to testify against the main suspects.

Alfredo Attard’s release from prosecution under the witness protection programme was made possible after amendments to the Criminal Code came into force in March.

But Dr Bonnici explained that the amendments allowed individuals in the witness protection programme to testify in court even if proceedings are still ongoing against them.

Dr Bonnici refused to comment on individual cases, but said that the amendments passed through Parliament in March and the Opposition agreed with them and offered constructive criticism.

Before this amendment came into force, witnesses in the programme could only testify for the prosecution once the case against them was heard and judged.

Dr Bonnici was speaking during a press conference announcing a new service whereby as from June, summons for civil case will be sent by email to the lawyers or legal procurators rather than distributed by hand by court marshalls.

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