Prime Minister Pledges Not To Let Impunity Reign In Malta As He Delves Into Keith Schembri Case
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat pledged not to allow anyone to proceed with impunity and said he stands ready to take tough decisions right before explaining his current stance with regards his chief of staff Keith Schembri.
“As a party, we must establish ourselves as the movement which safeguards our institutions,” Muscat told a political rally in Rabat. “Our institutions are working and don’t treat people differently, and it’s my job to see this remains the case. It’s my job to ensure that no one can proceed with impunity and that decisions are taken, no matter how hard they are. I’ve always taken these decisions and I’ll keep taking them.”
The Prime Minister then referred to this week’s major political controversy, which erupted after Schembri dropped a libel suit he had instigated against former PN leader Simon Busuttil over corruption allegations so as to avoid being cross-examined in court.
People gathered in Valletta last night to protest against Keith Schembri
He defended his chief of staff’s actions, arguing that a superior court had ruled that if one answers questions at a magisterial inquiry, one cannot answer the same questions in open court because doing so could prejudice the inquiry.
“[Keith Schembri] found himself in a situation where he could have undermined and potentially ruined the inquiry by answering those questions in open court,” Muscat said. “He had to decide whether the libel suit or the inquiry was more important and he correctly decided in favour of the inquiry.”
There are a number of magisterial inquiries into alleged corruption ongoing, but Muscat appeared to be referring to an inquiry launched by magistrate Charmaine Galea just over a year ago into 17 Black, one of two Dubai companies which, according to leaked emails, was supposed to transfer large sums of money to Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.
“I hope this inquiry doesn’t take long to conclude so that everyone can know all the facts,” he said, recounting how an inquiry he had requested had concluded there was no evidence to the infamous allegations that his wife owned the Panama company Egrant.
“I said I’d resign if the inquiry finds a shred of proof and time proved us right,” he said. “I hope this inquiry doesn’t take long to conclude and once it’s concluded, we can take all the necessary decisions.”
What do you make of the Prime Minister’s statement?
READ NEXT: Manuel Delia Warns Keith Schembri: ‘You Don’t Know How Much We Know About You’
