Gozo drugs’ inquiry: Lawyer recuses himself, John Vassallo to lead inquiry

Lawyer Frank Testa has asked Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to stand down from leading an inquiry into allegations of undue political interference in a police investigation on drug trafficking, after discovering that a person involved in the case was a family member related to a colleague at his legal firm.

The Office of the Prime Minister said that Testa had informed Muscat that, in the course of his investigation, he found that a person involved in the case was related to an employee of Mamo TCV.

Lawyer John Vassallo has been appointed in his stead.

Testa, a former chairman of the Employment Commission, is partner at Mamo TCV Advocates. Testa was also appointed by former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia on the board of the Police Academy.

The lawyer told Muscat that he could no longer continue with the inquiry, due to the existing conflict of interest.

On his part, the Prime Minister thanked Testa for his service and expressed his disappointment that the lawyer “had become the target of a political attack” ever since he was appointed to head the inquiry.

MaltaToday has reported that undue political influence allowed a Gozitan person accused of drugs possession to change their version of events in a new police statement.

The Nationalist Party pointed out that Vassallo is a former Labour candidate, questioning how someone so close to the Labour Party could lead an independent inquiry set to investigate political interference. Vassallo is also deputy chairman of the Lands Authority.