New magistrate recuses herself on Leisure Clothing trafficking case

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech declined to take over the case, citing the fact that in her previous role as Deputy Attorney General, she had been involved in the prosecution of Bin Han

Newly appointed Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech has declined to take over the compilation of evidence against Bin Han, the managing director of Chinese textile producer Leisure Clothing.

Donatella Frendo Dimech is the former deputy attorney general.

Ten months have passed since a court had decreed that there was sufficient evidence to indict Mr. Han, 46 from San Gwann and his marketing director Jia Liu, 31, from Birzebbugia on charges of human trafficking and illegal working conditions. 

The case had come to light after several Vietnamese employees from the Bulebel factory were arrested whilst trying to leave the island with false Italian identity documents. The workers had told the police that they had not been paid the agreed wages and that their passports had been withheld by the company.

A string of Vietnamese employees had testified as to how they would receive €200-€300 monthly – half the amount promised – for working 12 hours a day, seven days a week and had their passports confiscated by the company on their arrival.

But compilation proceedings had been stalled by the retirement of presiding Magistrate Carol Peralta, which required the outgoing magistrate’s pending caseload to be redistributed. The case eventually ended in the lap of newly-appointed magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, before whom the next sitting in these proceedings was due to be held.

This morning, however, Magistrate Frendo Dimech declined to take over the case, citing the fact that in her previous role as Deputy Attorney General, she had been involved in the prosecution of Mr. Han.

The case is expected to be assigned to another Magistrate.