The following is being published as a right of reply from the Ministry within the Office of the Prime Minister in terms of the Press Act:

Reference is made to the article entitled ‘All in the family: Konrad Mizzi audit, John Dalli and shady company Tyre Ltd’ published on 27 February 2017. The article of the 27th February fabricates a story solely intended to harm Minister Mizzi’s reputation. The ‘facts’ as in this article have absolutely no connection with each other. It is to note that Crowe Horwath International were appointed directly as an independent audit firm.

Minister Mizzi had absolutely no link with Tyre Ltd and Mr Dalli, and has not engaged Horwath Malta as the newspaper is trying to speculate. The independent audit was carried out by Crowe Horwath International and the engagement is with their New Zealand office.

Crowe Horwath International is ranked as the eighth largest global professional services network in the world and the fact that The Malta Independent questions its integrity shows to what lengths the editors will go to tarnish Minister Mizzi’s reputation.

Editorial note:

The article to which the ministry refers is based in pure fact, and not speculation as alleged. It is a newspaper’s inherent responsibility to publish facts of which it aware and to bring them to the public’s attention when those facts concern public figures. That is what this newspaper has done and that is what it will continue to do, in good faith and in the national interest.