Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera, in a 49-page ruling, confirmed both the guilt and the sentence handed down by the Court of Magistrates against Justin Haber.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal stated that the fact the defendant faces a suspended prison sentence and a fine as declared by the First Court, “does not automatically mean that the punishment is excessive.” The court reminded that the accused was found guilty of subjecting a minor under the age of 15 to acts and behavior with sexual connotations—acts that were unwanted by the victim.
The Court further noted that these acts were committed by an employer against his employee within his commercial establishment, which “renders the incident even worse.”
“The Court of Magistrates (Malta) had the opportunity to see and analyze the circumstances of this case, from which it emerges that the appellant erred, and erred greatly, especially considering that his conduct will leave an impact on the victim who, in no way or manner, ever invited such behavior from the appellant,” Judge Scerri Herrera wrote in her sentence.
She concluded that the sentence given by the First Court falls within the parameters of the law and there is no reason to “depart from the judgment of the First Court.” Consequently, the appeal filed by Justin Haber was rejected, and the original sentence was confirmed.
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