‘John Dalli investigation 'undermined AG’s office’ – Fenech Adami
PN deputy leader for party affairs casts doubts on decision to change team investigating bribery allegations involving the former European Commissioner.
The people's trust in the Office of the Attorney General has been undermined after Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit declared there was no case against John Dalli, according to PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami.
In June, Zammit declared that there was no criminal evidence to arraign or accuse former EU health commissioner John Dalli on grounds of corruption or trading in influence over the allegations that he was aware of a €60 million bribery attempt by one of his political canvassers.
He had also stated that he had already consulted with Peter Grech, and that he had agreed with his assessment.
But in court, on 26 September, former Police Commissioner John Rizzo said that, together with his investigative team and the Attorney General, "felt that we had enough to accuse Mr Dalli".
"That is what I said that time, and this is what I keep on saying. If I were still Police Commissioner, I would have arraigned him, on advice of the Attorney General," Rizzo said.
Quoting him word by word, Fenech Adami said Rizzo had been unequivocal in his statement that there had been enough to prosecute against Dalli.
"What is also certain is that John Rizzo and two inspectors investigating the case had been axed. This team had decided there had been enough to take criminal steps against Dalli. They had the comfort of the Attorney General's advice," the Nationalist MP said.
Fenech Adami added that it was time for the parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici to declare his position on what Rizzo told the Court and the Attorney General's advice.
"The government has undermined the Attorney General's Office. People are losing trust in the Attorney General," he said, adding that the case was about allegations of corruption involving millions.
"As if there were interference to stop the process."
'€10 million property gift to Labour Party'
Turning to the controversy which has marked government's decision to stop a court cases instituted by the Lands Department on the ownership of the Australia Hall, Fenech Adami said it was scandalous that the government had now gifted the Labour Party with a property.
This, he said, contradicted Prime Minister's claims that he would introduce a party financing law.
"Despite all the words about the party financing law, there has been no action. Worse, scandalous, is that while we speak about a law regulating party financing, the Labour Party is gorging on from a PL election to government."
He said the government should explain how the PL would be benefiting from the Australia Hall, by plans to rent out the property with part of the income going to finance pending debts which the party had.
Amidst shouts of "shame on you" from the Opposition benches, Fenech Adami invited parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia to explain "the rampant theft of public land to serve as clubs for the PL".
He said Farrugia should also explain how the private was paying Labour €50,000 for the extension of a promise of sale contract (konvenju).
Lambasting government for using public land to pay off the PL's debts, Fenech Adami said this showed how the Nationalist Party never made money from people's backs.
"Our finances show that we never stole millions to finance the party," he said.
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