Magistrate Denies Jason Azzopardi’s Inquiry Request Into Silvio Schembri
A magistrate denied lawyer and former PN MP Jason Azzopardi’s request into Economy Minister Silvio Schembri over unexplained wealth.
Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici said that the request did not meet the necessary requirements, according to Malta Today, however he noted that the application was neither vexatious nor frivolous.
Azzopardi filed the request into Schembri’s assets saying they did not add up with the minister’s publicly declared income. He based his request on several media reports by the Shift News and the Times of Malta.
Both Azzopardi and Schembri released statements on this decision with the latter detailing the “cloud of uncertainty” he’s lived under since the request was submitted, and the former pledging to appeal this decision.
“I will be appealing this decision, as the law still grants me the right to do so.”
“A right of appeal that will be removed by the infamous legal amendments that Robert Abela wants to introduce.”
At the start of the year, magistrates rejected Azzopardi’s request into the Lands Authority CEO and probes into Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri (which will be resubmitted in the Gozo courts).
Azzopardi has also had successful requests and now, inquiries are ongoing into the ID card scandal and alleged corruption within LESA.
Azzopardi’s court action has prompted Prime Minister Robert Abela to push for a reform that will require citizens to go to the police with allegations and wait for six months of investigations before magisterial inquiries can be launched.
READ NEXT: Inspector Confirms No Evidence Of Money Paid To Mizzi And Schembri In 17 Black Case
