A justice system that punishes the vulnerable and protects the powerful

Momentum expresses serious concern over a series of recent decisions by the Maltese justice system and other institutions, which, taken together, show a worrying disregard for the public interest, transparency, and fundamental rights. These cases, a woman convicted after seeking medical help following a self-managed abortion, a politically exposed person shielded from public scrutiny, and a gagging order placed on a newsroom, all point to a pattern of decisions that favour secrecy and power over fairness and accountability.

In the first case, a 28-year-old woman was handed a suspended prison sentence after taking abortion pill and seeking medical attention. She was reported to the police by hospital staff and prosecuted. Momentum finds it deeply disturbing that in Malta, a citizen must now be cautious about what they disclose to their doctor. This judgment sets a precedent for individuals who may use illegal substances and require urgent care, but are now afraid to speak about what they have consumed in fear of prosecution.

In stark contrast, a politically exposed person who sexually harassed a hotel worker was granted anonymity by the court, reportedly to protect his professional reputation. Despite pleading guilty, his name was withheld from the public. It is unacceptable that a woman seeking help is punished while a man with power is shielded. Such actions damage the credibility of the legal system and send the wrong message about justice and accountability.

Meanwhile, Times of Malta was hit with an unprecedented court-ordered gagging injunction, blocking it from publishing a story about an e-money institution allegedly in breach of anti-money laundering laws. The injunction was granted before a draft of the article had even been written, representing a direct attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information. This move raises serious concerns about censorship and the use of legal instruments to silence journalists.

Dr Matthew Agius, executive member of Momentum, said, “These three incidents are not isolated but form part of a broader trend that is eroding trust in Malta’s institutions. Citizens are growing increasingly disillusioned with a system that appears to protect the powerful while punishing the vulnerable. Moreover, we are witnessing a situation where some individuals escape accountability for serious crimes because the government is effectively legalising illegal behaviour through the simple payment of fines.”

Momentum calls for urgent reforms to restore public confidence. Doctors should not disclose confidential medical records without consent, and political individuals should not be afforded special protection when they commit crimes. Finally, the courts must safeguard press freedom.

Sistema ġudizzjarja li tippersegwita lill-vulnerabbli u tipproteġi lill-persuni fil-poter.

Momentum jesprimi tħassib serju dwar sensiela ta’ deċiżjonijiet reċenti mis-sistema ġudizzjarja Maltija u istituzzjonijiet oħra li juru nuqqas ta’ rispett lejn l-interess pubbliku, it-trasparenza, u d-drittijiet fundamentali. Dawn il-każijiet jinvolvu mara li ġiet ikkundannata wara li fittxet għajnuna medika wara li ħadet abortion pill, persuna esposta politikament protetta mill-iskrutinju pubbliku, u ordni mill-qorti biex issikket kamra tal-aħbarijiet, kollha jindikaw xejra ta’ deċiżjonijiet li jiffavorixxu s-segretezza u l-poter fuq il-ġustizzja u r-responsabbiltà.

Fl-ewwel każ, mara ta’ 28 sena ngħatat sentenza ta’ ħabs sospiża wara li ħadet pillola tal-abort u fittxet attenzjoni medika. Hija ġiet irrappurtata lill-pulizija mill-istaff tal-isptar u ġiet imħarrka. Momentum isibha inkwetanti li f’Malta, ċittadini issa jridu joqogħdu attenti dwar dak li jiżvelaw lit-tabib tagħhom. Din is-sentenza tistabbilixxi preċedent fejn individwi li jkunu użaw sustanzi illegali u jeħtieġu kura urġenti, issa jibdew jibżgħu jitkellmu dwar dak li jkunu ħadu bil-biża’ li jiġu prosekutati.

B’kuntrast qawwi, persuna esposta politikament li fastidjat sesswalment impjegata ta’ lukanda ngħatat l-anonimità mill-qorti, allegatament biex tipproteġi r-reputazzjoni professjonali tiegħu. Minkejja li ammetta l-ħtija, ismu nżamm mill-pubbliku. Mhux aċċettabbli li mara li qed tfittex l-għajnuna tiġi kkastigata filwaqt li raġel bil-poter jiġi protett. Azzjonijiet bħal dawn jagħmlu ħsara lill-kredibilità tas-sistema legali u jibagħtu l-messaġġ żbaljat dwar il-ġustizzja u r-responsabbiltà.

Sadanittant, Times of Malta twaqqfet b’ordni mill-qorti milli tippubblika storja dwar kumpanija tal-flus elettroniċi li allegatament kisret il-liġijiet kontra l-ħasil tal-flus. Il-mandat ta’ inibizzjoni ngħata qabel ma kien saħansitra nkiteb l-artiklu, u dan jirrappreżenta attakk dirett fuq il-libertà tal-istampa u d-dritt tal-pubbliku għall-informazzjoni. Din il-mossa tqajjem tħassib serju dwar iċ-ċensura u l-użu ta’ strumenti legali biex isikktu lill-ġurnalisti.

Dr Matthew Agius, membru eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum, qal, “Dawn it-tliet inċidenti mhumiex iżolati iżda jiffurmaw parti minn xejra usa’ li qed tnaqqas il-fiduċja fl-istituzzjonijiet ta’ Malta. Iċ-ċittadini qed isiru dejjem aktar diżillużi b’sistema li tidher li tipproteġi lil dawk fil-poter filwaqt li tikkastiga lil dawk vulnerabbli. Barra minn hekk, qed naraw sitwazzjoni fejn individwi jistgħu jaħarbu mir-responsabbiltà għal reati serji għaliex il-gvern qed jillegalizza imġiba illegali permezz tal-ħlas sempliċi ta’ multi.”

Momentum jitlob riformi urġenti biex terġa’ tinkiseb il-fiduċja pubblika. It-tobba m’għandhomx jiżvelaw rekords mediċi kunfidenzjali mingħajr kunsens, u individwi politiċi m’għandhomx jingħataw protezzjoni speċjali meta jwettqu reati. Fl-aħħar nett, il-qrati għandhom jissalvagwardjaw il-libertà tal-istampa.

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