The courtroom stage was set on Monday morning for Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi to take the witness stand before matters took an unexpected twist.
Both high-profile individuals were due to face cross-examination in a number of libel proceedings revolving around allegations stemming from the Panama Papers scandal.
Yet, before Mr Schembri, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, had even entered the courtroom, his lawyer Edward Gatt formally informed Magistrate Francesco Depasquale that his client was requesting not to take the witness stand once he was still to testify in three ongoing inquiries being handled by magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, magistrate Josette Demicoli and Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi.
Dr Gatt explained that the subject matter behind those three inquiries could directly impinge upon the merits of the current libel proceedings.
Surprise, surprise. @keithaschembri turns up in Court and asks not to have to face my questions on #PanamaPapers and #17BLACK. Court will rule in October. He can run but he cannot hide. #Justice will prevail. https://t.co/CdAEr7h7qV
— Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) June 4, 2018
Requiring Mr Schembri to testify today could breach of his rights to a fair hearing, Dr Gatt argued, adding that the libel proceedings would still continue with the production of other evidence.
Countering this request, lawyer Peter Fenech, assisting former Oppostion leader Simon Busuttil, pointed out that all three inquiries referred to by Dr Gatt were conducted behind closed doors and could not in any way prejudice the libel proceedings instituted by Mr Schembri.
“It is in the interest of justice that all cases should take their course in the most expedite manner,” Dr Fenech argued, objecting to the request made by Mr Schembri’s lawyer.
“It was not correct to first institute libel proceedings and then let them drift on, using the excuse of a pending magisterial inquiry over which this court has no control,” Dr Gatt insisted.
I asked to be given the chance to give evidence in front of the inquiries set in motion by @SimonBusuttil. One year ago today he was given the lesson of his life. But he learnt nothing. Truth will prevail, and Busuttil will hopefully stop his sorry shenanigans. pic.twitter.com/h9CEoghW3r
— Keith Schembri (@keithaschembri) June 4, 2018
Faced with this scenario, Magistrate Depasquale informed the parties that this matter needed some thought and postponed a decision on the issue to October.
Barely minutes later, when minister Konrad Mizzi, also present in court, was due to take the witness stand, his lawyer Aron Mifsud Bonnici asked that given the magistrate’s decision to postpone Mr Schembri’s case to October, Dr Mizzi’s cross-examination also be postponed until the court had made a decision about the Schembri vs Busuttil case.
The court upheld the request and also adjourned the case to a later date.