Revealed | David Gatt's tapped phone calls with criminals

Read the tapped conversations by the Security Services that Commissioner of Police John Rizzo said had indicated former police inspector David Gatt was advising criminal suspects how to avoid police suspicion.

READ THE TRANSCRIPTS HERE in MaltaToday's digital paper.

MORE: David Gatt's interest in freemasonry featured in Illum - read more here.

According to Rizzo, who presented the transcripts when Gatt was suing the police corps and the Office of the Prime Minister over his unfair dismissal from the corps, the conversations revealed the familiarity Gatt enjoyed with George Briffa 'il-Piccoli', a suspect in the Group 4 heist.

At the time of the officers’ dismissal, in 2001, Rizzo was the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). “Information came to me that David Gatt was communicating with one of the suspects who was later charged with the theft. Not only did he communicate more than once, but he communicated in such a way so as to give certain information as to how the suspect should act to avoid police suspicion."

Transcript excerpt

GEORGE BRIFFA: Hello

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: It’s me

GEORGE BRIFFA: Hi

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: You ok?

GEORGE BRIFFA: All right

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: All right, tomorrow afternoon phone me at work, but not on this, so that we agree on when to visit our friend

GEORGE BRIFFA: Yes, but, it’s better…we don’t meet up for now…today they were again…

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: No, no…phone near the shop

GEORGE BRIFFA: Yes

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: Do you mind?

GEORGE BRIFFA: Not at all, not at all, for me it’s better we meet, but

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: No, no, me too

GEORGE BRIFFA: Yesterday... I told you

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: Of course, didn’t I tell…you see

GEORGE BRIFFA: About 14 cars, you know

INSPECTOR DAVID GATT: Didn’t I warn you?