Justice Minister says involuntary acts do not merit resignations

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has questioned the trust of Opposition leader Simon Busuttil in the judiciary after the latter called for the minister's resignation. Reacting to the minister's citation before a court of magistrates over a traffic accident he was involved in, Busuttil said the minister should resign so as not to influence the magistrate presiding over the case.

"To say that I should resign so as not to influence the objectivity of the judiciary goes to show that the leader of the Opposition does not have enough trust in the members of the judiciary. It questions the poor opinion Busuttil has of the judiciary, who on a daily basis addresses far more important cases than a traffic accident," Bonnici said.

Members of the judiciary are not appointed by the individual minister, but as the Cabinet as a whole.

The minister added that he does not think his case merits a resignation because his was not a voluntary act.

"I believe that a resignation should take place when an act tarnishes the trust the people enjoy in that person. However, I don't believe that an accident, which is not a voluntary act, undermines the people's trust," Bonnici added.

He confirmed that the Prime Minister has been kept informed of the situation at all stages.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was summonsed to a traffic sitting of the Court of Magistrates on 3 October over a traffic accident he was involved in on 3 April. 

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit will preside over the sitting.

According to the ministry, the citation essentially says that Bonnici involuntarily caused injuries to a third person and involuntarily caused damage to two cars.

The incident happened when Bonnici was driving his personal car towards Marsa. Bonnici was driving round the bend just outside the Santa Venera tunnels when he crashed into a car that was stationary and located in a dangerous spot. 

Bonnici hit the stationary car, which in turn hit the driver who was standing outside his car.