Joseph Muscat’s lawyer has submitted a right of reply regarding reports that he failed to show up to an evidence disclosure session in April during the criminal investigation into the Vitals Global Healthcare deal.

The statement that Muscat missed this session was included in the Vitals magisterial inquiry.

This was the response:

“Kindly note that the former Prime Minister had been asking the inquiring magistrate for more than a year to testify and answer questions, a request she ignored. The Inquiring Magistrate decided to call Dr Muscat ONLY after he had filed constitutional proceedings asking, amongst other things, for her removal from the inquiry.”

“Upon being notified of this request, Dr Muscat filed an application in the constitutional proceedings filed against the state attorney and attorney general asking the court to provide for the necessary measures because what was being requested by the same Magistrate would have obviously impinged on the constitutional proceedings. In the meantime, the inquiring magistrate concluded the inquiry and sent it to the attorney general.

Dr Muscat would have wished to further comment on the contents of your article but cannot do so by virtue of a court decree prohibiting him from doing so”.