If she remains in place, it had said, she should be removed from leading an institution that supposedly has the duty to fight against crime but, instead, is using it to guarantee impunity. Repubblika had said that Buttigieg should immediately resign and apologise for her incompetence. The prosecution, led by the AG, failed to submit the complete documentation regarding a European Arrest Warrant (EAW), leading to the dismissal of extradition procedures against a man wanted in Italy in connection with drug-trafficking. The call was also made by Repubblika, over yet another issue, this time relating to an error the Attorney General’s office made over an extradition procedure. The fourth call for her resignation came on 30 June 2022, just three days later. “Today, the Maltese State has told its honest civilians that it will not care for or protect them.” The civil society movement then requested for Parliament to take action and hold a vote to remove Buttigieg from her post.Ĥ. “These are not mistakes,” Repubblika had stated. With the procedural errors in mind, the court cleared the two lawyers of the charges brought against them. In her judgement on the case, Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras said that while the lawyers had been charged with active bribery and that the compilation of evidence was set out in such a manner by the prosecution to reflect these charges, the Attorney General had indicated a different provision of law – one which concerned passive bribery in the private sector – in its note for referral. Later that same month, on 27 June 2022, Repubblika called for the AG’s resignation over another issue.Ī judge had cleared two of Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers of allegedly trying to bribe a Times of Malta journalist (who had refused), after the magistrate responsible for the case said that the Attorney General’s office had failed to specify the relevant type of bribery. “The Union is requesting the resignation of the Attorney General for the only reason that she failed to protect the protectors and those who try to keep our country safe,” the union had said.ģ. This judicial protest was filed after the charges relating to the attempted murder of police officers were dropped. The union expressed its disappointment that Buttigieg “did not have the decency” to reply to a judicial protest filed by them on 14 January that year. On 1 June 2022, the Malta Police Union (MPU) joined Repubblika’s call for her resignation, publicising their frustration due to Buttigieg “failing to protect police” in the HSBC heist case. The second time a call for her resignation was made was on the same issue. Buttigieg “never explained why she forgave a criminal who shot at police,” the NGO said at the time, “it is clear to us that after this betrayal of justice, the Attorney General should resign”.Ģ.

After having attempted murder charges dropped to secure the reduced 10-year prison sentence, Debono said he would only testify against Vince “il-Koħħu” Muscat, and not any others, citing that he feared for his family’s lives. The AG had offered a 10-year plea deal to Darren “it-Topo” Debono in exchange for his testimony detailing who his accomplices during the 2010 HSBC heist were. The first time Buttigieg was called to resign was on 17 February 2022 by Repubblika.

These are the 10 cases in which Buttigieg was called upon to resign her office.ġ. However, “Victoria Buttigieg doesn’t even come close” to fulfilling this, he said ( see separate story with more comments).Īn email sent to the Attorney General for her comments has not been replied. Repubblika’s president Robert Aquilina, meanwhile, said that the Attorney General’s autonomy is an obligation, a “burden that an attorney general must carry as they seek, honestly and competently, to ensure justice for our community”. Moreover, he told this newsroom that her actions have so greatly tarnished the reputation of her Office that “only her removal can restore the respect and integrity it deserves”. Speaking with The Malta Independent on Sunday, the PN’s spokesperson for Justice Karol Aquilina, said that Buttigieg has “consistently made irresponsible decisions and committed numerous blunders”.

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