PN calls for Carol Peralta’s resignation

The Nationalist Party has called for the resignation of Magistrate Carol Peralta insisting that his position was no longer tenable.

Yesterday evening, the Magistrate ordered the arrest of a reporter who tried to take pictures of Peralta's chambers, where Christmas drinks were being hosted.

It has been reported that Peralta was drinking and smoking. "This is not acceptable and Peralta's position is no longer tenable," the PN said, saying that the magistrate should resign.

In comments to MaltaToday, the Opposition's spokesman for justice Beppe Fenech Adami said Peralta's order to arrest the Times of Malta reporter was "abusive".

"He not only organised drinks at the courts, but he was also smoking and from what has been reported, he went a little bit overboard as well. But what is more serious is his decision to abusively order the arrest of a journalist," Fenech Adami said.

MaltaToday is informed that at least one other magistrate and a police inspector where present for the drinks.

Asked whether any magistrates who could have participated in the party should also shoulder responsibility, Fenech Adami said he would be jumping the gun if he were to comment.

"So far we don't have any such information and it wouldn't be fair of me to comment. However, what Peralta did was abusive both in his role as the organiser and his call for arrest," he said.

Meanwhile, Owen Bonnici also decried Peralta's call for arrest as "abusive and illegal" since the court was not in session.

According to court regulations, pictures cannot be taken in the halls or corridors during court sittings.

Bonnici added that a courtroom was no place for parties to be held: "This is the first and last party to be held in a courtroom under this government."

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also expressed his anger over Peralta's actions, saying that the situation further diminished the public's confidence and trust in the judiciary and the situation has become untenable.

From Brussels, Muscat said that it was a travesty for a reporter to be arrested while carrying out his duties and moreover, he argued that the law courts were no place for a party to be held.

"The alleged party and the subsequent arrest of the reporter further proves that a change is needed within the Constitution to afford the Commission for the Administration of Justice greater remedies," the Prime Minister said.

Muscat said under the current law, the only remedy the government can exhaust is to ask the Commission to investigate the claims, which in turn would be able address, the situation despite its limited remedies.

"The government must act on the proposals made by the Justice Reform Commission and implement the proposed measures," he concluded.