The Justice Ministry has formally written to the Committee for Advocates and Legal Procurators requesting them to conduct an ethics investigation into ex-Attorney General (AG) lawyer George Camilleri who is now defending the Degiorgio brothers despite already prosecuting one of them.

This comes after the PN published a statement saying that the news of Camilleri’s actions “confirms that Justice Minister Jonathan Attard continued doing nothing and ignored the conclusions of the public inquiry that he had requested three years ago.”

The ministry denied the allegations that the recommendations of the internal inquiry concluded in 2020 were not implemented in the Attorney General’s office.

It further “reminded” that this is a matter regarding “professional ethics” and that a situation wherein ethics is breached can be investigated by the Committee of Lawyers and Legal Procurators.

It went on to state that Attard formally wrote to the relevant committee calling it to investigate “what is being reported in the media.”

“While it is the duty of every professional to follow the code of ethics that governs the legal profession, the results of the internal inquiry had led to the implementation of a number of contractual measures as well as others related to professional ethics to avoid revolving door situations.”

The ministry further said that as a result of the conclusions of the inquiry, a clause was introduced stating that the employees within the AG should not, while they are employed with the AG, appear for private clients or enter into any negotiations regarding terms of engagement as defence lawyers with private clients, either personally or through third parties.

Similarly, prosecutors within the AG should not, prior to the termination of the employment, make any arrangements or preparations to act, alone or in a collegial manner with lawyers or other legal firms on behalf of any person against whom they would have led a prosecution or on whose case the AG’s office would have given advice on.

What do you make of the Justice Ministry’s request?