Morning Briefing
Controversial magisterial inquiry gets Parliament’s approval
Parliament passed the controversial magisterial inquiry reform bill on Wednesday, with 37 MPs in favor and 30 against. The Nationalist Party opposed it. The bill has been widely criticized for removing citizens’ right to directly request a magisterial inquiry. Instead, they must first file a police report and wait six months before seeking court intervention. Justice Minister Jonathan Attard defended the reform as a move toward a more responsible process. Meanwhile, various NGOs protested outside parliament, arguing the bill strips citizens of a key legal right. (The Malta Independent)
Muscat’s iPhone reset before raid, Court report reveals
Joseph Muscat’s iPhone was reset weeks before police raided his home, court hears. Expert Keith Cutajar revealed that Muscat had searched online for ways to erase iPhone data and delete WhatsApp backups. Data shows his phone was reset on December 28, 2021, and his family home in Burmarrad was searched on January 19. Muscat faces money laundering, corruption, and bribery charges related to a fraudulent hospitals deal, and he has pleaded not guilty. During the raid, he handed investigators a file of documents and admitted he was only “half surprised” by the search, having refused to disclose his phone password. (Maltatoday)
Spring hunting season likely to reopen – reports
This year’s spring hunting season is likely to reopen, after a court on Wednesday turned down a request by Birdlife to stop the Ornis Committee from discussing and voting on the matter. In its request for a prohibitory injunction, Birdlife argued that the spring hunting season breaches the EU’s Bird Directive and local conservation laws, placing the vulnerable turtle dove further at risk. Birdlife claimed that Malta’s spring hunting derogation was invalid, given that the season contributed to turtle doves’ declining population. The NGO said that its arguments were backed by new data published by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit, which shows that the turtle dove population is dropping from one year to the next. The government and the Ornis Committee rejected Birdlife’s claims, arguing that the injunction request was premature, given that