Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has publicly slammed the decision to haul a former Infrastructure Malta chief to court.

In a public statement – one of a number that hit social media on Sunday – Muscat decried the decision to charge Fredrick Azzopardi as one that “saddened and angered” him.

“I’ve always defended the institutions, and that’s what I’ll continue to do. Today I feel that my work is to defend the citizen from institutions who cave with a bit of pressure,” Muscat started.

“To be clear, I’m not referring to a Labour Government, but to individuals who justly have the autonomy to decide themselves, but need to recognise that this autonomy means one must react not because someone has criticised you.”

Saying that Azzopardi was not the most “delicate in his manners” but was perfect for his role as one knew “where they stood” with him, Muscat lamented the man behind hauled to court over “essentially doing his job”.

Azzopardi is set to be charged on Tuesday over a case that goes back to 2019,  Times of Malta reported.

The charges involve IM workers allegedly ignoring a compliance order from the Environment and Resources Authority over worked in the Wied Qirda area in Żebbuġ. During the works, protected trees were uprooted and key ecological areas destroyed.