📷 Times of Malta
A campaign has resurfaced on the media of the Labour Party and the government to intimidate and threaten Magistrate Gabriella Vella who concluded the inquiry into corruption in the sale of public hospitals a year ago.
The “reporting” uses the actions of Magistrate Vella in the performance of her duties to portray her as having done something wrong. For example, the comments of these fascists close to Joseph Muscat emphasize that it was the Magistrate who ordered a search of the suspect’s home. As if it is not the job of a magistrate to make decisions and give orders when what is appropriately called a “magisterial inquiry” is being carried out.
Every person accused of a crime probably despises the state officials who gather the evidence that will be used in court against them. But not every accused person has access to the media and resources that Joseph Muscat has. Intimidating state officials is a fascist and mafia method used when corruption and greed don’t work.
If Joseph Muscat is innocent of what he is accused of, he has all the means to defend himself in court like any other citizen. Instead, he is coordinating a media campaign that aims to incite hatred and violence against the Magistrate who investigated the crimes he allegedly committed. This is so that at the same time the other officials of the state who are acting in his case – the witnesses who have yet to testify, the prosecutors, and the magistrates and judges who have yet to consider his case – are also intimidated. If they do not release him, he is implicitly warning them, what is happening to Magistrate Vella will happen to them.
At the same time, we are seeing comments on social media under this intimidating discourse, full of hatred and threats. Some of these comments worry us greatly. This is a dangerous demonization. We appeal to those responsible to ensure the personal safety of Magistrate Vella, her family, and all officials of the state who are loyal to the truth.
It is our duty as citizens to defend them if we want to maintain the right of state officials to protect us from criminals and the corrupt, no matter how much power they have to intimidate and retaliate against those who do what is right.