Panama Inquiry case: Judge Mizzi to hold sitting one week before retirement

The Constitutional case over the Panama Papers inquiry could be decided by Judge Antonio Mizzi after all, after the judge decided to hold a sitting on November 8. The judge is due to retire later this month, on the 15th November.

This comes after a decision by the constitutional court for the recusal of Judge Mizzi from an inquiry into the Panama Papers was overturned on appeal.

Former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil had filed a request for an inquiry into the Panama Papers revelations, but after a magistrate found there were grounds for such an inquiry, it was appealed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, together with businessmen Brian Tonna, Karl Cini, Malcolm Scerri and Adrian Hillman.

The appeal was due to be heard by Judge Mizzi, however Busuttil filed a constitutional case demanding that Mizzi recuse himself because of a potential conflict of interest stemming from the fact that he is married to Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi.

Busuttil’s request was upheld last July, only to be appealed by the Attorney General and overturned.

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi is counsel to Busuttil.