Government publishes Gozo drug bust inquiry terms of reference
Following calls from the Opposition, the government this afternoon published the terms of reference for the inquiry being led by Dr John Vassallo into allegations of political interference in a Gozo drug bust in 2014.
The terms of reference are as follows:
- To examine all the circumstances that led to the two youths mentioned in an article published in MaltaToday on 26 February 2017 allegedly changing their police statement after the intervention of political officials
- To determine if the procedures and laws applicable under the circumstances had been followed
- To determine if there had been any form of external intervention in the case
- To make recommendations after examining all the facts
- To present the report within three weeks' time
The government yesterday approved a request from Dr Vassallo for an extension of the inquiry's deadline, which has now been set for 5 April.
Name the ministers involved, PN challenges
In reaction, the Nationalist Party said that the publication of the terms of reference came a month late, and challenged the government to name the ministers who were allegedly involved.
"At this stage," the party said in a statement, "there is only one thing that [Prime Minister] Muscat can do: name the ministers who met late at night in October 2013, after which the two drug traffickers changed their statement.
"If he does not do that, Muscat will be defending those who traffic drugs."