PN Leader Adrian Delia joins a growing list of people calling for the immediate removal of Keith Schembri as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff after he refused to testify in a libel suit concerning allegations of kickbacks and 17 Black.

Schembri initiated the libel suit in 2016 after Simon Busuttil said that Schembri was corrupt during a speech. Today, he was meant to testify over secret company 17 Black

“Keith Schembri did all he could to not answer the questions in a libel case he opened himself. A case with allegations of corruption. Schembri chose not to answer so he won’t incriminate himself,” Delia said in a statement.

“Schembri has to either immediately resign or be removed from his position,” he continued.

Civil society group Repubblika also called for him to quit, saying that “while every citizen has the right to refuse to testify to avoid self-incrimination, a political figure who chooses to do so must resign immediately”.

Schembri withdrew the suit after a  series of requests to stop his cross-examination were turned down by Magistrate Victor Axiaq.

“I have advice from lawyers not to answer any questions linked to ongoing inquiries,” he repeatedly told the court.

READ NEXT: Keith Schembri Withdraws Kickbacks Libel Suit Concerning 17 Black To Avoid Testifying On The Issue