Breaking news/Court rules in favour of the Ombudsman and against the Home Affairs Minister

The Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino

Judge Wenzu Mintoff has ruled today, in a judgement handed down in the Civil Court, in favour of the Ombudsman and against the Home Affairs Minister, Carmelo Abela, and the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kevin Mahony.

The case arose out of a dispute between the Ombudsman and the Home Affairs Minister, who was Manuel Mallia at the time, over who has jurisdiction in terms of complaints made by army officers and soldiers.

The Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino – who is a retired judge – was clear on the matter that it is the Ombudsman’s Office, but Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia objected, saying that it is the Police and Army Ministry (which would have been the cause of the complaints in the first place).

The Ombudsman then took the matter to court, suing the Home Affairs Minister and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and won the case this morning.

Read the judgement here: judgement – ombusdman