Rejected IIP client awarded damages over court delays

A Russian millionaire who sought to purchase Malta’s golden passport but was rejected has won compensation over court delays into his appeal.

Yury Sergeevich Danilov, from Moscow, had sued the government claiming that its outright refusal to grant him Maltese citizenship without giving him the opportunity to address any issues with his application was in breach of the principle of natural justice.

This case dragged on for years with very little progress, leading him to file a separate case that the delays were breaching his human right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

Mr Justice Toni Abela upheld his claims, ruling that the fact that the case has been pending for five years and seven months was unreasonable.

The judge noted that the case was hit with a one-year delay because two witnesses who were called to testify did not attend.

“The court observes that the proceedings were delayed by almost a year as a consequence of a lack of attendance by two particular witnesses. These witnesses hold office which, ironically, represent the State which is obliged to protect the rule of law with an efficient system of administration of justice,” the judge said.

He added that...