Mintoff’s letter to cabinet hits the streets on billboards
Quote accusing Prime Minister Robert Abela of putting money before judicial independence displayed across Malta
The controversial letter sent by Judge Wenzu Mintoff to members of the cabinet has moved from the headlines into the streets, with a key excerpt now plastered across billboards around Malta.
On Thursday morning, the Nationalist Party erected a number of billboards in various locations featuring one of the key quotes from Mintoff’s explosive letter in which the judge accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of placing money ahead of the independence of the judiciary.
The billboards show Robert Abela waving a small flag with the Euro symbol on it.
This was the central allegation Mintoff made about Abela in the five-page letter which was emailed to members of the cabinet a few days ago and leaked to the media soon after.
The judge said Abela had tried to bully one of his court workers to recalculate court fees in a civil case, in order to secure higher legal fees. At the time, Abela was a practising lawyer and a member of parliament and he was representing a client in a case being heard by Judge Mintoff.
“Dr Abela cared more about money than the independence of the judiciary,” the judge wrote.
This quote is now emblazoned on billboards which have appeared in a number of locations including Portes des Bombes in Floriana, in Luqa close to Malta International Airport and near the Skatepark in Msida.
The unprecedented sworn declaration came amid ongoing discussions between the government and the Nationalist Party on the next Chief Justice after the incumbent reached retirement age.
In the letter, Mintoff asked for Abela to be removed from all talks and decisions on the appointment of the new chief justice, claiming the prime minister is biased against him.
Following the publication of the letter, Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti referred the matter to the Judiciary Standards Commissioner, which happens to be Mintoff’s long-time close friend retired judge Toni Abela.
The letter also revealed that Mintoff and the prime minister had a private meeting about the role, a point which has irked some members of the judiciary.
One former member of the judiciary told Times of Malta “the moment they sat down together, the barrier of independence was blurred”.
Under the judiciary’s code of ethics, judges cannot communicate with members of the executive about their job.