Abuse of power: John Dalli has formally requested the police to prosecute me

Disgraced former European Commissioner John Dalli, a consultant to Prime Minister Muscat, has made a formal request to the police to prosecute me for “harassing” him.

I will keep you updated on this matter. Meanwhile, I am seeking advice on aspects related to Constitutional law and human rights, in readiness to challenge this abuse of power and violation of my rights to freedom of expression as an ordinary citizen and, above all, as a journalist with the duty to hold people like him to account.

The police apparently wish to interrogate me about my attempts at harassing the Prime Minister’s consultant. They had better prepare a warrant for my arrest – which is going to look spectacularly good and even better while Malta holds the presidency of the European Council – because I am not going to comply on principle.

The police believe that they have got to comply when they receive a formal request for prosecution (kwerela) and then it is up to the courts to decide. But they are wrong. The process of interrogation, prosecution, criminal charges, interminable court appearances and legal costs is in itself a form of harassment, most especially when used by politicians and others in power against the journalists who draw public attention to their wrong-doing, abuse and multiple failings.

It has what the European Court of Human Rights calls “a chilling effect” on journalists and is fundamentally abusive in itself.

If John Dalli thinks I have lied about him or distorted the facts in his regard, then he has recourse to the law under the Press Act, for libel. He can file a civil suit as normal people do.

But instructing the police to harass and prosecute a journalist for writing about him is something straight out of the states with which Dalli and his client, Joseph Muscat, are most comfortable.