Watch: Robert Abela – I Did Not Offer Money To Silence Isabelle Bonnici
Prime Minister Robert Abela has denied suggestions that he made some kind of financial offer to stop Jean Paul Sofia’s mother Isabelle Bonnici from campaigning for a public inquiry into her son’s death.
“The Prime Minister never made a financial offer to silence Isabelle Bonnici,” a spokesperson for Abela told Lovin Malta.
“The discussions, in several meetings held with Ms Bonnici, exclusively revolved around general options based on well-established legal principles, and the Prime Minister will uphold the confidentiality of these meetings.”
During an impromptu demonstration outside Parliament last July, Bonnici handed MPs letters asking for their support on an Opposition motion requesting a public inquiry.
When Abela approached Bonnici, the Prime Minister requested a private meeting at his Parliament office, an offer the grieving mother accepted.
Bonnici told Lovin Malta yesterday that, during this meeting, Abela had offered her “various alternative options” to stop her campaigning for a public inquiry into her son’s death but that she turned them all down.
She refused to confirm or deny that one of the offers on the table was financial compensation, as was suggested by Mark Camilleri.
“A private meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s parliament office and at the request of Robert Abela and in this meeting, the Prime Minster explained the various alternative options to a public inquiry,” Bonnici said.
“In that meeting I adamantly refused all options which would stop my campaign for a public inquiry to be held. The meeting was cordial and lasted about an hour.”
Is it correct for the Prime Minister to offer a range of options to grieving families?
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