Malta’s Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa has reiterated that allegations that former Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta was leaking crucial information about Daphne Caruana Galizia and the investigation into her murder “very seriously”.

Speaking to Lovin Malta, Gaffa would not be drawn into comments as to whether the police will open up its own independent inquiry into the issue, stressing that the matter is currently in the hands of a magisterial inquiry.

“The Police are actively working side by side with the Inquiring Magistrate,” he said.

Valletta, who is the estranged husband of Education Minister Justyne Caruana, was brought into the national spotlight yet again after Vince Muscat’s bombshell testimony in the case against Alfred Degiorgio and George Degiorgio for their role in the murder.

Valletta was named as the source of information on crucial details like Caruana Galizia’s whereabouts in the lead-up to her murder and the imminent arrests of the three hitmen. 

Muscat explained that Degiorgio would reach out to then-minister Chis Cardona, who would use a high-profile lawyer, who already has major links to this case, to reach out to Valletta for information. 

Media reports and court sittings have revealed that have had an intimate relationship with main suspect Yorgen Fenech. He held dinners with Fenech and went abroad with him on at least two occasions. Meanwhile, there exists a video of Valletta “fooling around” in Fenech’s Rolls Royce.

It has also been revealed that Valletta features heavily in Theuma’s secret recordings, in particular with relation to leaks from the police investigation.

These details included the arrest of the three men charged with carrying out the murder, Muscat’s potential pardon, information that Theuma’s and Yorgen Fenech’s phones were wiretapped, and that Cardona’s number was discovered on the phone of one of Daphne’s killers.

Valletta, who is referred to as “Valletta l-oħxon” in Theuma’s secret recordings of Fenech, was leading the case into the assassination until he was forcibly removed by court order.

He was the one who set up unprecedented briefings with former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Schembri on the case. The briefings started soon after the murder and continued up until a month before Theuma’s arrest.

Valletta stepped away from the force in 2019. 

Muscat will be facing cross-examination tomorrow at 9.30am.

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