Attorney General Peter Grech today was called in to testify in the House Privileges Committee but he could not give much detail due to professional secrecy.

The committee is hearing a case filed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat against Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil after the latter had stated that the government had interfered to stop police from investigating John Dalli.

The Attorney General said that foreigners from OLAF, a certain Carlo Romera and someone called Potenza gave him the report on 19 October 2012.

He believes that they gave him the report as on continental Europe the prosecutor general investigates and moves suspects to court, yet in Malta it is the police which has the responsibility to do so.

"I saw the report together with other lawyers in the office on 22 October". He proceeded to send the report to the Police commissioner for further investigation. "This report wasn't enough and I told him, through a letter, to further investigate".

He was asked when he would next come into contact with the case; however the AG could not answer as going any further would break his professional secrecy, he said. As such he would require permission from the Police Commissioner as well as the Minister responsible to give testimony.

PN Secretary General and Committee member Chris Said asked: "So in order to testify you need permission from a Minister? Is the AG subject to a Minister?" In response, the AG referred to a ruling which results in this.

The government had originally objected to the AG testifying, with Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech saying that having the AG testify would set a precedent and could cause problems in future cases where he would be required to advise government. 

The Opposition was angered by the government's stance on the issue and Dr Said could not understand the government's fear on this issue.

Dr Said explained that former Commissioners will be summoned as media reports showed that the AG had given conflicting evidence.

Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech was not questioned for the same reason as the AG and the Speaker was asked to give a ruling on whether the police or government would be required to authorise the AG's testimony.