Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not want to comment on what he said were "personal issues", when asked this morning for his views on the police investigation Sunday evening involving former TV presenter Norman Vella.

Dr Muscat was asked for a comment made by this portal whether he felt that that Mr Vella’s questioning by police yesterday could have sent the wrong message that the former TV presenter was being picked upon after Mr Vella had filed a judiciary protest against the prime minister and the principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar back in June.

All Dr Muscat said on the issue was that he was informed that the police did not arrest Mr Vella but held him for questioning.

Yesterday, Mr Vella, who is employed at the passports section at Malta International Airport, was held for questioning for four hours at the end of his shift for allegedly taking photos of the government’s chief communications officer Kurt Farrugia at the departure lounge.

Mr Vella’s phone and tablet were confiscated by police as a result.

Mr Vella, who was a PBS TV programme presenter, had filed a judicial protest against Dr Muscat to complain about his revocation of his deployment to the national broadcasting station.

Mr Farrugia was part of a group of government communication coordinators who were sent on a course to BBC by government.

Asked on what grounds the government’s communication officers were sent on a course, Dr Muscat replied by saying: “So that the coordinators could work with journalists, I imagine."

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-10-27/news/norman-vella-held-in-custody-3010756609/