PN, Repubblika highlight ‘failure’ of expired garnishee orders in Keith Schembri case

The recent revocation of garnishee orders against Kasco Holdings and Josette Schembri Vella, resulting from the authorities’ failure to renew them by legal deadlines, has ignited a firestorm of criticism over the state of Malta’s justice system, with both the Nationalist Party (PN) and the anti-corruption NGO Repubblika condemning the incident, viewing it as a profound failure in the administration of justice.

The Nationalist Party stated Monday that the responsibility for this oversight lies squarely with the Attorney General. Describing the event as a “serious failure in the administration of justice,” the PN called for an immediate explanation, demanding clarity on whether this was a “grave failure of competence or whether it happened by design.”

The party emphasised that in a serious country, authorities must handle cases involving financial crime with the utmost rigor, asserting that “the fact that the authorities ‘forgot’ to renew garnishee orders can never be accepted as evidence of competence or seriousness.”

The PN warned that such incidents raise suspicions that the justice system is not being applied equally, noting, “There is no place in any country for one law for the gods and another for the animals.”

Repubblika highlighted that the revocation is “yet another episode that adds to the growing perception that the Maltese state either lacks the capacity or lacks the will to see the fight against corruption through to its conclusion.”

The NGO argued that these developments reinforce a belief that the influence formerly exercised by figures like Keith Schembri over state institutions remains undiminished. Repubblika expressed deep concern over the national impact of this perceived impunity, stating, “When institutions fail to apply the law effectively against the most powerful individuals, the message sent to society is a dangerous one: that there exists a class of people who can break the law without fear of consequences.”

Both organizations agree that the fallout extends beyond procedural error. The PN stated that it will continue working to ensure the justice system does not “favour those connected to power by allowing room for mistakes from which the privileged few may benefit.”

Similarly, Repubblika noted that without genuine accountability, the country cannot achieve closure, as “the culture of impunity that has caused so much harm to our country will continue to grow stronger.”

 

 

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