Opposition demands immediate publication of Gozo drugs inquiry report

The Nationalist Party has called for the immediate publication of the inquiry report into allegations that two ministers intervened in a drugs trafficking case.

“Stop taking people for a ride and act against the two ministers who interfered in the drugs case,” the Nationalist Party told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning.

Muscat said that the report would be published as soon as possible, after it has been analysed.

The inquiry was led by lawyer John Vassallo, a former Labour candidate. The PN asked why the Prime Minister had not yet published the report.

“The Prime Minister should immediately publish the report and take steps against the two ministers,” the PN said, as it accused Muscat of “choosing drug traffickers over youths”.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused the Prime Minister of covering for two of his ministers.

The inquiry was appointed following a news report by MaltaToday which revealed that two senior government officials met with the father of a man who had been identified as a drug trafficker by a woman apprehended by the police. Following the meeting that took place at the Gozo ministry during the night in October 2013, the woman requested for her police statement to be changed.

MaltaToday’s managing editor Saviour Balzan was one of the persons requested to testify before the inquiry. As recently as last Monday, further details were passed on to the inquiry by Balzan and the inquiry’s report was presented to the Prime Minister, the following day. A final copy was delivered on Wednesday after after Muscat asked for clarifications.