[WATCH] 'Muscat can’t hide from responsibility' – PN

PN calls on Muscat to shoulder responsibility for Gaffarena 'scandal'. Video: Ray Attard

Parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon has asked the head of civil service to initiate an investigation into the government’s expropriation of the Old Mint Street.

News of the request comes 24 hours after MaltaToday on Sunday reported that inside information from a highly-placed official inside the Government Property Division would have allowed the exact identification of lands that Marco Gaffarena needed for his own personal and business interests.

MaltaToday also reported that a member of Falzon’s secretariat – Clint Scerri – could not explain why he had accompanied Gaffarena personally to the Government Property Division.

According to shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi and  PN MP Ryan Callus, it was “impossible that a Castille official acted of his own accord”.

“There definitely was political involvement,” Azzopardi said, pointing out that Joseph Muscat was the first prime minister with a portfolio that included the Lands Department.

Azzopardi insisted that the case “stinks of corruption”. He said, the Prime Minister should stop hiding and start answering journalists’ questions.

“The buck stops with the Prime Minister,” Azzopardi added.

The Office of the Prime Minister’s portfolio includes the parliamentary secretariat for lands and planning, led by junior minister Michael Falzon.

“Muscat cannot hide from the responsibility he must shoulder,” the shadow justice minister said, adding that Muscat could not escape the issue any longer. “He must assume political responsibility.”

Up until this morning, Falzon had resisted calls for an internal investigation into a massive €1.65 million compensation to Gaffarena in cash and select land parcels, for half-ownership of a Valletta building housing the government offices of the BICC.

READ MORE Inside information likely in Gaffarena property deal

In a statement issued on Monday, the parliamentary secretariat said principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar requested an investigation by the Internal Audit and Investigations Department.

The PN however rubbished the government’s call for an IAID investigation, saying that the OPM had now asked the IAID to investigate a department that fell under its responsibility.

This is the second investigation to be ordered after Azzopardi last week requested an investigation by the Auditor General. The government said it welcomed the request. Callus said the government’s acceptance was “nothing else but spin because the NAO doesn’t need the government’s approval to investigate.”

The Opposition said the IAID request showed that the government was “in panic mode”.

In a statement, the government accused the Opposition of playing judge and prosecutor and of attacking an inquiry that will be carried out by a “respected institution” that has carried out several investigations over the years.

“We will respect the outcome of both the Auditor General’s and the IAID’s investigations,” the government said.