PN MP Says Magistrate Compared Her To A ‘Prostitute’ For Greeting Cousin With A Cheek Kiss
Nationalist MP Janice Chetcuti has called out magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace for publicly comparing her to a prostitute in a humiliating verbal takedown in court after she greeted her cousin with a kiss on the cheek in front of her.
Chetcuti, a lawyer, told Lovin Malta that the incident occurred around two weeks ago when she was waiting in Micallef Stafrace’s courtroom for one of her client’s cases to begin.
“The case hadn’t started yet,” she said. “People were walking around the room, the magistrate was talking to someone else, and suddenly my cousin – who is also a lawyer – stepped into the room.”
“We hadn’t seen each other for a while, not since before the general election, he approached me and we greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek.”
Chetcuti said she then heard the magistrate screaming through the microphone, claiming she carried out an erotic act and comparing her to a prostitute.
According to Chetcuti, the magistrate shouted out that “not even the worst prostitute who appeared in front of her” (Lanqas l-agħar qaħba kriminal li qatt kellhi quddiemi) had ever committed such an act in her courtroom.
Chetcuti said both she and another lawyer explained to Micallef Stafrace what happened and that the man was actually her cousin but the magistrate was having none of it.
“I looked her in the eye and told her I did nothing but she warned me that she will fine me €550 for disrespecting the court if I kept looking at her like that.”
She said the magistrate also warned her that she was tempted to defer the case for four years, but instead deferred it to November.
Micallef Stafrace then informed the Chamber of Advocates in writing that Chetcuti and Marino Mercieca had “kissed each other during a court sitting”.
“The court feels that this behaviour is greatly disrespectful and is sending a notification to the Chamber of Advocates to take any measure it feels opportune,” the notice read.
Chamber of Advocates president Louis De Gabriele told Lovin Malta that it has been advised of the court record and is currently investigating the matter.
“We have asked the lawyers in question to give us their version of the occurrence, and we are also seeking to obtain other evidence from other members of the profession who were in the hall at that point in time, before we can come to any conclusion, particularly since the terms used by the court “dehrilhom li għandhom joqgħodu jitbewsu waqt seduta” can be subject to interpretation,” he said. “We would like to verify the facts before we can take a view on the matter.”
Lovin Malta has asked the Court Services Agency whether magistrate Micallef Stafrace would like to provide her version of events.
Chetcuti said she feels completely distraught at the incident and that she believes she was the victim of a sexist act, considering the magistrate targeted her and not her cousin.
“I have no doubt that she did what she did because of who I am and I feel that this is ruining my career,” she said. “It is so hard for a woman to find herself in my position, and then the magistrate just came and destroyed it all in a few seconds. It’s unacceptable.”
“The highest authority in the land made me the laughing stock of court and didn’t even let me look at the magistrate in the eye.”
A former Marsaxlokk councillor, Chetcuti was elected to Parliament last March and made PN spokesperson for the environment, open spaces and animal rights.
She has been widely tipped to contest the PN deputy leadership position, and she told Lovin Malta earlier this week that she isn’t ruling out throwing her name in the hat.
Cover photo: Left: PN MP Janice Chetcuti, Right: magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace (Photo: TVM)
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