‘Police Commissioner can no longer be trusted’ – Busuttil

In a fresh attack on Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil has insisted that the police commissioner can no longer be trusted because he is only representing the Labour government and acting on Joseph Muscat's orders.

Addressing the PN club in Balzan this morning, Busuttil alleged that under a Labour government, the police has become "littered" with political interference - culminated by the decision of the government's leniency to Enemalta card holders.

Following the discovery of an electricity-meter tampering ring valued at approximately €30million, Enemalta decided to waive criminal proceedings against the consumers guilty of corruption, provided they come forward, pay their dues and provide information that helps "capture the big fish" behind the criminal web.

However, in his testimony against two Enemalta employees charged with corruption, police inspector Daniel Zammit confirmed that a political decision stopped the police from charging Enemalta account holders with bribery.

The testimony subsequently saw the Nationalist Party demand the resignation of police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit after claiming that the police received "political orders" not to prosecute Enemalta account holders who are suspected to have bribed Enemalta employees to hack into their smart meters.

"This political interference is scandalous and a travesty to democracy and justice. The police commissioner is Joseph Muscat's puppet and he is no longer representing the general interests of the Maltese public but conversely, he is only representing the interests of the government," Simon Busuttil argued this morning.

"How can the country trust him when he is allowing the government to turn the police force into a political tool. The police commissioner [Peter Paul Zammit] is not transparent or independent but conversely, the police's investigations are only motivated by Joseph Muscat and his government's decision," he claimed.

Moreover, after the government had rebutted allegations of political interference and insisted that the police is "free to take all the necessary action," the Nationalist leader argued that the government's amnesty is seeking to protect individuals.

In a sudden turn of events, after parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici had accused the opposition of "hindering" the police's and the government's work to protect people, Simon Busuttil argued that it is the government who wants to protect individuals.

"Owen Bonnici said that the police are acting independently and rebutted allegations that there was political interference, but the political arrest of Norman Vella, the John Dalli case, have showed that this an all familiar feeling within the police force," he said.

"Who will you believe? An inspector testifying on oath and confirming the political interference or a parliamentary secretary who is alleging that the police are free to investigate? We will let people decide," Simon Busuttil argued while referring to past cases of "political interference".

In a fresh rant at the government, the PN leader also said the government's "amnesty" only serves to make it equal to corruption and that corruption is being done with its "blessing."

"The theft of electricity from smart meters and the corruption of Enemalta officials is being done with the blessing of the government and its promise to waive criminal proceedings," he said.  

Appealing to the Attorney General, Busuttil called on the judiciary to retain its "seriousness, dignity and independence."

In the wake of the controvery surrounding the government's planned amnesty to Enemalta consumers involved in the smart -meter tampering ring, Attorney General Peter Grech has been tasked to decide whether criminal proceedings would be instituted against the implicated consumers.

"For transparency's sake it is fundamental that the AG does not follow Peter Paul Zammit and that he retains his independence," Busuttil argued.

Turning his attention on the government's proposed reform within the justice, the PN leader accused the government of "protecting" Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco.

"Even though the Commission for the Administration of Justice found Farrugia Sacco guilty of misbehaviour, Joseph Muscat is not going ahead with the impeachment motion. This is undermining both the justice sector, the judiciary watchdog and proving that the justice reform was all a lie," Busuttil sad.

In a swipe at the government's upcoming one-year anniversary, the Nationalist leader also blasted Joseph Muscat and the Labour Party's "dishonesty.

"This is a government built on lies, a government which has not delivered on its electoral pledges," Simon Busuttil argued while referring to "soaring" unemployment rates, the derided citizenship scheme and the proposed LNG storage terminal in MArsaxlokk.

Echoing Nationalist MEP candidate Therese Comodini Cachia, the PN leader argued that the government is "ignoring" the Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents.

"The government has no honesty.  The Nationalist Party is a beacon of hope and it should serve as a model for the government - a model of political honesty, transparency and one which is close to the people."