Former Chief Justice Arrigo to stand trial on November 11
KARL STAGNO-NAVARRA
Former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo will stand trial on November 11, charged with accepting a bribe in 2002 to reduce a prison sentence on appeal for convicted drug trafficker Mario Camilleri, known as ‘l-Imniehru’.
The allegations had rocked the judiciary when they were first revealed by then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in a press conference 7 years ago.
Arrigo, who has since been released on bail, has chosen to stand trial before a judge and not before a jury.
The delay in his trial, which will be presided by Judge Giannino Caruana Demajo, was due to constitutional proceedings he had initiated, as well as other cases before the criminal court where a number of other people connected to the alleged bribery scandal were awaiting sentencing.
Another former judge, Patrick Vella, also stood trial over the same charges and was jailed for two years after admitting his guilt. Joseph Zammit, known as ‘Is-Sei’, admitted he was the go-between in the bribery scandal and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
Kingpins Mario Camilleri and his son Pierre were also jailed for instigating the bribe.
Businessman Anthony Grech Sant, who was found guilty on appeal of his involvement as an intermediary, was recently jailed for 22 months.
Shortly after their arrest, both judges had resigned their post and made a public apology, while they challenged the legality of the press conference called by Fenech Adami.
Both men had stated that their case had been compromised before the nation and were prejudiced by public opinion.
While Patrick Vella admitted the charges on his first day of trial, he also made a public apology for all the damage caused to the nation and its judicial system.
Lawyer Joseph Giglio will appear as defence counsel to former Chief Justice Arrigo.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
