A pardon for Yorgen Fenech in exchange for any crucial information on corruption he may hold is “premature”, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said. However, he did not exclude it as a possibility.

“I think it’s very premature to say that. Obviously, there are always conditions…so, I am not entertaining any issue on whether there is a further request for a pardon,” Muscat told Lovin Malta.

“What’s obvious is that I don’t shelter anyone, I will do whatever is necessary, whenever it is necessary,” he continued.

Lovin Malta then asked Muscat whether there would be a conflict in him hearing the pardon, given that the links between 17 Black, Yorgen Fenech, his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and Minister Konrad Mizzi.

“Should we let the opposition decide? I am here to decide. I am making what I believe are the best decisions for the Maltese people,” he said.

Muscat was speaking to the press to give an update on the case once again, revealing that Fenech was briefly granted police bail due to a 48-hour arrest limit in Maltese law so that further investigations could take place today.

“What role are you speaking in today, police commissioner, attorney general, minister of justice, Prime Minister?” Lovin Malta asked, with questions surrounding his growing power continuing to grow.

“I am speaking as the Prime Minister? And I don’t want to burden the police by making a public announcement in a very delicate situation. I am shouldering the reasonability of informing the Maltese people of what I can inform them,” he said.

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