John Rizzo: Cabinet Members Said My Removal As Police Chief Was ‘Part Of The Roadmap’
Opening up on his 2013 removal as police commissioner, John Rizzo said that Cabinet members had told him in private that it was a result of his plan to prosecute former European Commissioner John Dalli.
In an extensive interview on Jon Mallia’s podcast Il-Podcast ta’ Jon, Rizzo said that while he has no evidence that his removal was linked to the Dalli case, he was informed by powerful people at the top of government that this was the case.
“It could be… I have often heard that [version of events], from within and outside the government. Cabinet members had told me more than once or twice that my removal was part of the roadmap. I can’t say if it is true or not… the truth is that I was removed and that my removal coincidentally coincided with the Dalli case.”
Rizzo had planned to prosecute Dalli after the EU’s anti-fraud office OLAF implicated him for allegedly pursuing a €60 million bribe from a Swedish snus producer in return for a change in legislation.
However, Rizzo was removed as police commissioner shortly after the PL’s victory at the 2013 election and was replaced by Peter Paul Zammit.
On the podcast, Rizzo said he felt bad when, the very next day after he was removed as police commissioner, he heard Zammit state that there wasn’t a case against Dalli.
“He hadn’t even officially become police commissioner and he said there wasn’t a case. I have major doubts about this because I don’t think he spent his first day as commissioner looking through the entire Dalli process.”
Rizo reiterated what he told the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry two years ago – that Dalli returned to Malta from Brussels right after he resigned.
Dalli was eventually charged in 2021, under current police commissioner Angelo Gafa, who was the lead inspector in the original 2012 investigation into Dalli and his former aide Silvio Zammit. Dalli is pleading not guilty.
Former European Commissioner John Dalli
Rizzo made it clear that he has nothing against Dalli, noting that he had actually cleared his name, when – as PN minister – he had been accused of corruption involving the construction of Mater Dei.
“Investigations don’t take place to pin the blame on someone but for the truth to emerge… if the investigation unfortunately reveals guilt, then there’s guilt.”
“However, the first time I investigated Dalli I felt he was innocent and I actually prosecuted a police sergeant with defamation and making false accusations, and he was found guilty in court. I was just doing my job.”
Rizzo said that news of his transfer from police commissioner, a job he held for 11 years, to head the Civil Protection Department, came as a “massive blow”.
“My life revolved around the police force and my family and I had no other hobby,” he said. “The police force was my baby. I loved it, I used to spend my free time there and go there for Sunday mass with my family. It was like my home.”
“Unfortunately, I believe that even my health regressed after I was removed and I have kept searching for the reason why I was removed. What did I do wrong? Did I deserve this after all those long hours of dedication?”
Did you watch John Rizzo’s interview on Jon Mallia’s podcast?
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