Minister reacts as MP questions his intention over drug addict's e-mail

The shadow minister of home affairs, Jason Azzopardi, said this evening that the Justice Minister was playing with the people's sentiments when last week he read in parliament an e-mail from a person who was convicted of drug abuse and was facing a jail term, even though the case took place several years ago and he had since reformed himself and was starting a family. Speaking in parliament, Dr Azzopardi said there was no doubt that it was wrong that this case took so long to be decided. Justice delayed was justice denied. But he could not understand why Justice Minister Owen Bonnici opted to read the convicted person's e-mail, unless he intended to pardon him. If Dr Bonnici intended to recommend a pardon, what about similar cases? What was the cutoff point? Would it be the time it took for the case to be decided, the fact that the accused had since married or had children? If the minister did not feel that this case merited a pardon, then why had he raised it in Parliament, creating confusion? It was right that the minister was taking measures to speed up court proceedings, Dr Azzopardi said, but it was wrong of him to play with people's sentiments. ACTION OVER MISCARRIAGE OF...