Intent to give it the slant dictated to them, the media controlled and coordinated by the GonziPN cabal missed the crux of the evidence given yesterday by Michael Cassar, previous assistant police commissioner, former European Commissioner John Dalli said in a statement this morning.
"Mr Cassar stated unequivocally that the evidence the police had against me was circumstantial and would not have led to a conviction. In his books, he said, you do not arraign people in court when you know that you will not have a conclusion. (I surmise - unless one has ulterior motives to do so - like pressure from one's political masters)
"Mr Cassar said that John Rizzo decided to arraign suspects on their own and Mr Silvio Zammit was arraigned on 11 December after he was arrested on the 10, released, and arrested again.
"Ex-Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, taking over the case, found the situation left by Rizzo, which according to Mr. Cassar was pure circumstantial evidence that would not have led anywhere. Mr Rizzo had not concluded his investigation and wanted another interview with me. Ex-Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit conducted this last interview with me in the presence of Investigating Inspector Gafa.
"Aware of this new twist and knowing:
1. how the tobacco industry had planned a strategy to target me using local resources and local media,
2. how the tobacco industry set an objective to "achieve their extreme measure by stealth",
3. that Dr. Busuttil Simon was in agreement with the Tobacco Lobby on all aspects they were pushing against my directive,
4. how Kessler is refusing repeatedly to face questioning about his actions,
5. from the OLAF report itself how the tobacco industry in fact planned and implemented their targeting strategy,
6. how Kessler collaborated with the tobacco lobby in their entrapment and subsequently in their execution
"It is now time for Dr. Busuttil Simon to make an apology.
"I expect this apology. Otherwise I will have no other alternative but to institute proceedings for malicious defamation against him and all those participating with him in this infamous attack," Mr Dalli said.
In reaction, Dr Busuttil said that what is being stated by “the Prime Minister’s consultant about me is absolutely not true and intended only to deflect attention from his case.”
Dr Busuttil said that a document presented by the former assistant police commissioner shows that on 6 December 2012, former police commissioner John Rizzo, Attorney General Peter Grech, his assistant Donatella Frendo Dimech, former deputy commissioner of police John Cachia and Inspector Angelo Gafa agreed that John Dalli should be charged with trading in influence and bribery.
This process was stopped when Joseph Muscat became Prime Minister, Dr Busuttil said.
“The personal consultant to the Prime Minister, John Dalli, thinks that he can threaten me with court action. I was not afraid of the Prime Minister who tried to shut me up by taking me before the parliamentary privileges committee made up of three Labour MPs. I will not be afraid of his consultant,” Dr Busuttil said.
It would be appropriate, two years after being asked to resign from the European Commissioner, that John Dalli apologises to the Maltese people, he said.
Michael Cassar document presented during priviliges committee. Click here to download