‘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.

PN deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami.
PN deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami.

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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We all now know how the Labour party won the election, to promise Tumas a piece of land in Portomaso, the Mistra fiasco.......Speak on Beppe, bring to light the injustices that are abound and that some newspapers are now willingly let fly by..how harsh we used to be in the previous legislature and how silent we now fall.....
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Ara tkellem il rocker pecluqu. Mur inheba man u turix wiccek izjed.
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Beppe should know and is certainly aware of the corruption under his Nationalist Government. He should know and must take his share of the blame for the absolute corruption of the Oil Scandal involving at least two ministers he supported. After All GonziPN always claimed shared responsibility. So he must shoulder the responsibility of millions if not billions of Euros stacked away in private bank accounts, when the people of these Islands were being crucified with massive energy tariffs. So why now attack Dalli, his former Finance Minister whom he too supported. What evidence is there to prove corruption vis a vis the massive oil trafficking scandal that has emerged and which, in the Parliamentary Committees his Party is trying desperately to cover up. But "tuffieha imhassra thassar lill-ohrajn" and the Maltese wisdom of old has much basis of truth.
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Only the PN is losing trust in the Attorney General's office. But not the people.
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The PN was very astute in covering up its tracks. Lawyering is in their blood, and legalised deceit certainly moves. But their inefficiency certainly took the better of them and they bankrupted their own party (Finanzi fis-sod tassew!) One thing is sure. They certainly knew how to look after themselves and especially their pockets, their families' and close associates' very, very, (but very, very) well indeed.
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Beppe mhux ahjar arraftna kif missierek, meta kien l-isptar biex jaghmel it-triple by-pass u kellu struzzjonijiet li ma jista' ikellmu hadd, halla lil John Dalli jkellmu! Kien propju meta kien qed ikun mibjugh il-Mid Med Bank bir-ribass. Kemm kien relevanti ghalikom John Dalli dak iz-zmien u issa tridu issallbuh
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Like father like son! Any more comments are superflous.
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Beepe, donnok qwieghe tibza minn Dalli
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John Dalli? I eally do not buy the story about him flying on a private jet to the Bahamas, where his daughter rented a villa at $8000 dollars a month so Mr John Dalli could meet with these African Bunessmen and help them out pro bono out of the goodness of his heart. What a nice person John Dalli is? Did I neglect to mention the halo glowing on top of his head? Well I think that is what Joseph Muscat was staring at. Igbed l-iehor Guz. Why didn't John Dalli bring those African Businessmen to beautiful Malta instead of flying to the Bahamas. And why did he resign and give up so easy if he knows for sure he is innocent of any wrong doing?
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John Dalli? I eally do not buy the story about him flying on a private jet to the Bahamas, where his daughter rented a villa at $8000 dollars a month so Mr John Dalli could meet with these African Bunessmen and help them out pro bono out of the goodness of his heart. What a nice person John Dalli is? Did I neglect to mention the halo glowing on top of his head? Well I think that is what Joseph Muscat was staring at. Igbed l-iehor Guz. Why didn't John Dalli bring those African Businessmen to beautiful Malta instead of flying to the Bahamas. And why did he resign and give up so easy if he knows for sure he is innocent of any wrong doing?
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John Dalli? I eally do not buy the story about him flying on a private jet to the Bahamas, where his daughter rented a villa at $8000 dollars a month so Mr John Dalli could meet with these African Bunessmen and help them out pro bono out of the goodness of his heart. What a nice person John Dalli is? Did I neglect to mention the halo glowing on top of his head? Well I think that is what Joseph Muscat was staring at. Igbed l-iehor Guz. Why didn't John Dalli bring those African Businessmen to beautiful Malta instead of flying to the Bahamas. And why did he resign and give up so easy if he knows for sure he is innocent of any wrong doing?
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Another daily PN diversion story.Beppe, as Rizzo and the AG said in court on September(I assume September 2012) 13 months ago,and with your PN team,felt they have enough to accuse Dalli.Why then,after that comment by Rizzo and the AG,plus the PN team did nothing?Why.Looks like another passing the buck.
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But why should general opinion change? We've had the same A.G. as that during the previous legislature and he was of the same opinion. Should the opinion of an ex-police commissioner be held in higher regard than that of the current A.G. who was also incumbent (ie in office) during the previous legislature?