‘Extremely Dangerous’: Multiple Calls Made For Attorney General To Publish 17 Black Inquiry Report
Several people are coming out in favour of the publication of a magistrate’s findings into 17 Black.
Prime Minister Robert Abela yesterday advocated for the public disclosure of the findings, emphasising an impending reform designed to enhance transparency in judicial investigations.
Abela proposed that the reform would mandate public access to both the procedural aspects and final conclusions of such inquiries in a statement made during a televised phone interview on ONE’s Paperscan program on Sunday.
The recently concluded inquiry, now under review by the Attorney General, involves corruption allegations against former Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, former Minister Konrad Mizzi, and Electrogas shareholder Paul Apap Bologna, all of whom face potential criminal charges.
The Nationalist Party (PN) has persistently demanded the immediate release of the inquiry’s conclusions, arguing that the public deserves full disclosure of corruption details and financial losses incurred. PN MPs Claudette Buttigieg and Darren Carabott have criticised the Attorney General for withholding the report, accusing the government of obstructing justice.
In defense, Abela asserted that the decision to publish magisterial inquiries should rest with the Attorney General rather than being influenced by political pressure. He reiterated that the proposed reforms would standardise the disclosure of both the investigative process and findings, promoting greater institutional transparency.
In a statement by Arnold Cassola, he calls for the inquiry to be “published immediately” as not doing so would be “extremely dangerous for democracy and transparency.
“This is an issue that does not impact single political parties but impacts the whole country and all Maltese citizens,” he said.
Cassola also called for Repubblika and Moviment Graffitti to organise public protests on the matter.
The controversy stems from earlier revelations made by investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who reported on 17 Black’s connections to Schembri and Mizzi before her assassination. Her investigations exposed efforts to channel funds from major public projects into private accounts linked to the Dubai-based firm owned by Yorgen Fenech.
The PN has continued to pressure the government, warning of political repercussions if Abela shields implicated officials from accountability. They have also compared the current inquiry to the Vitals-Steward hospital contract scandal, which similarly resulted in corruption allegations and criminal proceedings.
This saga has been ongoing for some time now, leaving the Maltese population in the dark.
Do you think the enquiry will be published and do you think anything will come of it?
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