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News MATTHEW VELLA THE Commission for the Admin- istration of Justice has written to the Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives, saying that its decision in the impeachment motion filed back in December 2012 against judge Lino Farrugia Sacco, still applied to a new impeachment motion pre- sented last week by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The unexpected move has done away with the need to hold a new inquiry into the original impeach- ment request filed by the prime minister Lawrence Gonzi. Parliamentary secretary for jus- tice Owen Bonnici said yesterday the CAJ's letter will be forwarded to the House Business Committee so that MPs can decide on the way forward to debate the impeachment motion. Farrugia Sacco was found to have misbehaved by the CAJ in January 2014 for retaining his post as Malta Olympic Committee president, in breach of the judges' code of ethics. But the Speaker last week ruled that the 2012 motion was no longer valid since its proponent, Lawrence Gonzi, was no longer an MP. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat proceeded to file a new impeach- ment motion, a move which would involve a repeat of the whole proc- ess, but the Opposition protested that the investigation would not be finalised in time before the judge retires in August. Now, in a letter to the Speaker signed by President George Abela, the chairman of the CAJ, the Com- mission reconfirmed the findings of its original report – which found that although Farrugia Sacco was not involved in any irregularities in the sale of tickets for the Olympic Games, there was a prima facie case of misbehaviour for having stayed on in the post and attracting disre- spect for the judiciary. Farrugia Sacco was filmed by un- dercover reporters posing as ticket agents, discussing ways of reselling Sochi Winter Olympics tickets, prompting an investigation by the International Olympic Commis- sion's ethics commission. The eth- ics commission found the MOC's secretary-general Joseph Cassar had "tarnished the Games", but found on wrongdoing on Farrugia Sacco's part. The Nationalist Party said that it now expected the motion for Far- rugia Sacco's impeachment to be discussed immediately. "This definite decision by the Commission means that the Op- position expects the impeachment motion against Farrugia Sacco to be discussed with immediate effect in the House of Representatives. We appeal to the Prime Minister not to hinder this process so that the House Business committee can schedule a date for the House to de- cide on the removal of Farrugia Sac- co," the party said in a statement. In its original decision, the Com- mission for the Adminstration of Justice found Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco to have acted incorrectly in retaining his post as president of the Malta Olympic Committee, in breach of the judiciary's code of eth- ics. In its decision, the CAJ said the im- peachment motion filed by Lawrence Gonzi had been proved. Farrugia Sacco had been informed in writing back in February 2006 to answer to the fact that his MOC presidency was incompatible with his role as judge due to a breach of the judiciary's code of ethics. He was reminded to resign his post in several communications from the CAJ throughout 2006. In 2007, he was formally told by the CAJ that his conflict was in breach of the judici- ary's code of ethics. The Commission took note of the fact that as MOC president, in 2012 Farrugia Sacco held a meeting with two undercover reporters from the Sunday Times of London posing as ticket resellers, during which a method of bypassing Winter Olym- pic ticket resale rules was discussed. "It does not result that the judge was involved in the illicit trade of Olympics tickets. But the allegations and the publicity they received, was the direct result of his refusal to align himself with this commission's directive in 2007. This harmed the respect and honour that the judiciary should aspire to, and undermined the public's trust in its operations, and breached the Code of Ethics." maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2014 Commission reconfirms decision in judge's impeachment will start being issued by the Identity Management Office (IDMO) as from will start being issued by the The new Identity Cards Applications will be received at the IDMO's Office at MALTA Gattard House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda (next to ARMS, MITA offices). GOZO 28A, St Francis Square, Rabat. 12th February 2014 WEDNESDAY WHO CAN APPLY? Individuals who are applying for a Maltese Identity Card for the first time Individuals who are in possession of an Identity Card and need to renew it because the details of the card need to be updated, for example a change in surname or a change of address Individuals whose Identity Card is declared to be lost or stolen The new Identity Card will include new electronic, security features and KartAnzjan integration. It will eventually be your key to access current and future e-government services. 1 2 3 NEW FEATURES For further information contact the Identity Management Office Tel : 21226627 / 21226628 e-mail: idmo.mhas@gov.mt www.mhas.gov.mt/IDMO Ta' Braxia Cemetery Gattard House Parking to Bieb il-Bombi to Msida GOZO 28A, St Francis Square, Rabat. Park & Ride The cards will be delivered to your house through a Maltapost official. Unexpected move pushes Farrugia Sacco impeachment back to House Business Committee Lino Farrugia Sacco

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