Prime Minister Robert Abela warned members of the judiciary not to abuse of their security of tenure in criticism of magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace for her recent treatment of PN MP and lawyer Janice Chetcuti.

Questioned by Lovin Malta at a press conference today, Abela said the Chamber of Advocates’ statement on the matter – which denounced the magistrate’s behaviour as “grossly unfair” – was “correct and factual”.

“The episode could have been avoided to maintain some decorum but it wasn’t anything out of this world,” he said, referring to how Chetcuti had embraced her cousin court, an act which prompted Micallef Stafrace to compare her to “the worst prostitute to ever appear in front of me”.

“However, the magistrate shouldn’t have responded the way she did,” the Prime Minister added. “My appeal to the institutions is that security of tenure exists to safeguard the absolute independence and impartiality of institutions. It isn’t a pretext to abusing their careers and displaying arrogance when carrying out their duties.”

“This is a clear message to all institutions that I gave in my first Cabinet meeting of this legislature and I maintain this stance. Other institutions are now free to act as they see fit.”