Judge Giovanni Grixti has recused himself from the PN’s case to get the State Advocate to recover the public funds defrauded in the hospitals deal
Judge recuses himself from PN’s hospitals case
Judge Grixti delivered a decree in chambers explaining why he would be abstaining:
His partner, lawyer Yanika Bugeja, had been appointed to represent one of Steward Health Care’s Maltese companys as a curator in a separate case.
Bugeja represented Steward Malta Assets Limited on a deed of rescission of ground rent for land related to the hospitals.
On Monday morning, the judge was actually expected to deliver a decree stating whether the government and cabinet were authorised to intervene in the suit.
The judge said he had learnt of his partner’s involvement one day before the contract of recession was signed last Friday.
His partner’s appointment as curator gave rise to a situation which impeded him from continuing to preside over the case, he declared.
Grixti said this was in line with the established principle that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
