PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami today accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of lying 10 times to the Maltese people on the Café Premier scandal.

Dr Muscat had said that the process to take the Café Premier owners to court would have been a long process. "This is a lie. The Auditor General in his report clearly said that the road government should have taken was through the courts," Dr Fenech Adami stated.

Addressing the media, the PN Deputy Leader added that the PN had started the court process during the previous administration, adding that the AG, in the report, argued that government had the right to take the property back through the courts, which would have avoided the €4.2 million payment to the operators of the establishment.

Dr Fenech Adami also addressed Dr Muscat's excuse that the €4.2 million had been paid in order to avoid the peril of a gas explosion beneath the National Library. "The AG had said that such peril does not exist". The PN Deputy Leader quoted Café Premier representative Mario Camilleri as confirming the threat did not exist, as they used electricity, not gas.

The PN Deputy Leader addressed Joseph Muscat's statement that the material was discussed in Cabinet. "Another lie," he said. "All who read the AG's report would see that it clearly results that Cabinet was in no way informed, provided with details of the negotiations and meetings with the Café Premier representatives. The Cabinet, in this case, was used as a rubber stamp for approval without being informed about negotiations." He argued that originally the price was set to be €3.9 million, however rose when the €210,000 commission was added.

"Dr Muscat said that Café Premier would not be commercialised, yet this is another lie. The Cabinet memo says that one reason for the €4.2 million payment was to generate income through leasing various sections of the property for commercial purposes". He spoke of the Prime Minister's statement yesterday, when he said that taking the Café back was a good move as it is a prime site "that will not be commercialised. This lie was proven through the Cabinet memo".

Dr Fenech Adami said that the Prime Minister met with Mario Camilleri three times prior to the election, not twice as Dr Muscat has said. "Mario Camilleri himself said this". Dr Fenech Adami added that several meetings took place after the election as well. 

Turning to the Attorney General's investigation, "Muscat told the press that he carried political responsibility when he allowed the AG to investigate". The AG does not require permission to investigate, in fact he launched his investigations on the PN's request. The AG is an independent entity and thus does not need permission".

"The Prime Minister clearly said that he did not involve himself in the  €4.2 million negotiation. This is another lie. He himself, not the Office of the Prime Minister, or persons close to him, was directly involved through a private email with the Premier directors, where he discussed the price. He must hold political responsibility".

Lastly, Dr Fenech Adami said that the Prime Minister claims the bailout was not discussed prior to the elections. "Nobody in Malta believes this. This process began before the elections. How could anyone believe that right after the elections, the Café closed its doors, Dr Muscat then initiated meetings and so soon after, the money exchanged hands".

Dr Fenech Adami, in response to a question, said that the police have not been contacted by the PN to investigate the whole case.

Asked whether the the Auditor General's report will be presented before the Public Accounts Committee, Dr Fenech Adami said that eventually it should. 

The PN Deputy Leader was also questioned about Mario Camilleri's €1,000 donation to the PN. In response, he said that the PN is not bought by people who donate to the party and "in no way allows donations to affect how we govern. He argued that the PN had initiated the court case against Cafe Premier however the Prime Minister chose to abandon this".