Georg Sapiano (The Sunday Times, March 28) claims I went out to lunch with Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, implying that I did so to influence her decision in a case I am a defendant in and which she is hearing. He makes a reference to "people at the top openly scratch(ing) each other's back".
I can categorically deny ever having gone out to lunch with Dr Scerri Herrera. Dr Sapiano is probably referring to a lunch I attended to celebrate the birthday of a mutual acquaintance in which Magistrate Scerri Herrera was seated at the same table as I was together with about 18 other friends. This dinner featured prominently in Daphne Caruana Galizia's blog after one of the patrons of the crowded restaurant we were in contacted her with the 'scoop'.
The case he is referring to is a libel case instituted by two Labour MPs, Charles Mangion and Karmenu Vella, against me following a statement I was directed to make by high-ranking officials in my party a week before the 2008 general election. This is one of the many libel cases which are to be settled by a blanket agreement between the two major parties, an agreement Dr Sapiano is surely aware of.
Why should I meet up with a magistrate to try to influence her decision about a case which is to be settled anyway? If I did try to influence anyone would I do so in such a public place? Even if this were the case, Dr Sapiano must have a very poor impression of our magistrates if he seriously believes they can be influenced by someone buying them a plate of pasta.
He refers to a possible vote on Magistrate Scerri Herrera's impeachment in Parliament, implying I may be influenced by the fact that I know the magistrate in question. I can reassure readers and my electorate that I will not hesitate to vote in favour of her impeachment if sufficient evidence is presented to back such a motion. On the other hand, I will not let myself be swayed by any other factors, and will not be pressured by anyone into voting against my conscience.
Perhaps, if Dr Sapiano, who is a candidate for the Nationalist Party, channelled his energy into other, more positive, efforts he would garner more popular support in the next general election. Surely he must appreciate that slandering his colleagues is not going to gain him any respect.