Police Commissioner criticises OLAF chief's handling of Dalli case
Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit says he would have risked being kicked out of office had he acted in the same way as OLAF chief did.
Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit says he would have been kicked out of office had he acted in the same way as the EU's anti-fraud agency chief Giovanni Kessler in his investigations on former European Commissioner John Dalli.
"If I were to act in the same manner in my position now I think I would be risking getting kicked out of office," Zammit said.
In an interview on German television station WDR, Zammit said that the EU's anti-fraud agency's investigations were carried out hastily and incorrect.
"In my opinion such cases do not warrant such speed and such a reaction without being looked into properly by all those concerned. If I were to take people to court because somebody said something, I would be wrong."
He added that the Tobacco Directive, piloted by Dalli, had a lot to do with the OLAF investigations, "but the issue is, who pulled the strings and who intended what? This is the matter which is not clear yet at this stage and one of the issues still under investigation."
The WDR programme also includes a brief interview with Dalli. Seen watching footage of a confrontation between Kessler and Green MEP Jose Bove, who has called for the OLAF chief's resignation, John Dalli said: "He's (Kessler) not logical he's twisting facts all the time...its unbelievable...to have your life depending on this guy or any citizen's life for that matter, not just my life. That's why he should resign I think.
Watch the programme (in German) here (4'10'').