[WATCH] Busuttil appeals to public for information on secret Panama company Egrant

Busuttil appeals to public for information on secret Panama company Egrant

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil has appealed to any members of the public with information on Egrant or any of the companies named in the Panama Papers, to come forward.

Egrant is a Panamanian company set up by NexiaBT together with two other companies: Hearnville Inc. and Tillgate Inc., which last year were found to belong to Konrad Mizzi, and Keith Schembri. 

"I appeal to anyone with information about who owns these companies or about the transactions that have been made and about this network of criminality in Castille to come forward," Busuttil said. 

MORE • [WATCH] Muscat denies secret Panama company Egrant belongs to him or his relatives

He urged any potential whistleblowers to “do the right thing” by exposing information that would lead to "justice being done."

"I promise that a new PN government will offer protection to anyone who comes forward with information," he said. "Our country must once again be able to protect the rule of law."

Asked whether he is convinced that Egrant belongs to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Busuttil said that he did not believe the Prime Minister’s denials.

"Surely he can't be believed. First he said Brian Tonna was the owner, and then he said he didn't know," Busuttil said. "Brian Tonna works in the same office as him so he has had a whole year to ask."

Busuttil also appealed to the Prime Minister to end uncertainty about the date of the next general election, arguing that this was not good for the country.

"Without a doubt, rumors of an early election create uncertainty. Today everyone is expecting an early election," Busuttil said. "I appeal to the Prime Minister: end the uncertainty, do what you have to do."

In a reaction, the Office of the Prime Minister accused Busuttil and Malta Independent columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia of lying in a bid to deviate attention from the PN's own problems.

"Five days have passed since Simon Busuttil and Daphne Caruana Galizia alleged that any company of the OPM Chief of Staff was used to siphon millions in funds of Azerbaijani origin. To date, and despite all the vitriol, Simon Busuttil and Daphne Caruana Galizia have failed to substantiate any of their claims.

"Neither has Daphne Caruana Galizia acceded to the simple and fair request that the libel proceedings instituted by the Chief of Staff be heard with urgency. If Simon Busuttil and Daphne Caruana Galizia truly believe in their battle cry, they would surely not attempt to serialise such an important matter. Their deceit is further brought to bear by today’s fresh allegations that he has just placed Tillgate Inc into ‘emergency’ liquidation. The Chief of Staff put the company into liquidation on the 22nd of January, 2017," the OPM said.