I feel compelled to write with reference to the article titled ‘Soon-to-be-magistrate faced Justice Commission’ (April 14) in light of the inappropriate insinuations and implications made by the author about my professional reputation in this period where I have recently given birth and I am currently recovering and bonding with a newborn while still choosing to honour all my ongoing work commitments to the best of my abilities.

With reference to the implications and insinuations raised by this article I confirm that throughout my entire career I have ab­solutely never ever been found to have committed, been in breach, at fault or sanctioned for anything in connection with my behaviour or in violation of my warrant or the code of ethics, including misconduct.

I also confirm that the above counts for all aspects of my career and in all employments both in Malta and abroad, most notably as a diplomat, barrister, prosecutor at the Attorney Gene­ral’s Office, independent practising lawyer and Regu­lator of the Family Business Office.

I have always worked with the utmost integrity and dedication to the legal profession and viewed it as a vocation. Furthermore, veri­fications as to any aspect of my conduct can be easily sought out and confirmed from every past employer and client I have served.

I therefore confirm, once again, that I have an entirely clean professional conduct.

Editorial note:  The article mentioned proceedings against Dr Lia in front of a committee of the Commission for the Administration of Justice. By definition, such proceedings take place where there is alleged or suspected misconduct or some other grounds. A presiding judge had raised an issue about the conduct in open court of Dr Lia and other lawyers, describing it as “appalling” and “shameful”.

The committee operates in secrecy. Although this newspaper was able to confirm that proceedings against Dr Lia did indeed take place, it was unable to establish the outcome. The article made this clear. The journalist, Victor Paul Borg, made two attempts to get answers from Dr Lia. In the first, a phone conversation, she declined to comment, and in the second she failed to reply to a text message. 

The wider scope of the article was Dr Lia’s impending appointment as magistrate, as reported in the media, in the context of her father-in-law being the Prime Minister’s personal lawyer and appointee on the Commission.