Deputy leader of the Nationalist Party Beppe Fenech Adami today said that it is "disgusting" that the Labour Party media house has been "given instructions" to try and discredit a whistleblower.
Yesterday evening, journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia said that a whistleblower who she received all of her information from on the Egrant case decided to testify in the ongoing magisterial inquiry for three hours yesterday. It was said she is a former employee of Pilatus Bank.
Caruana Galizia alleged that Egrant Inc, the third company acquired by Brian Tonna's Nexia BT alongside that of minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri, belongs to Mrs Michelle Muscat. It was also alleged that a transfer of US$1.017 million from Ms Leyla Aliyeva, a daughter of the Azerbaijani president, was made from her Dubai company through Pilatus Bank, Ta' Xbiex.
Dr Fenech Adami stressed that Egrant was acquired at the same time minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi and the PM's chief of staff Keith Schembri's Panama companies.
He also made reference to fresh allegations that Nexia BT's managing director Brian Tonna paid kickbacks to Mr Schembri after three Russian citizens paid for services for the controversial citizenship by investment scheme.
"The situation in Malta is grave. This is why Dr Busuttil has called on people to come forward with any information on the criminality inside Castille. Many people have done their duty by coming forward. I appeal for more to do so.
"I also appeal for protection of those who have come forward to reveal the rampant corruption. The Nationalist Party will give full protection to all whistleblowers.
"The Prime Minister tries to plug information leaks but more keep cropping up. His position is no longer tenable," said Dr Fenech Adami.
Shadow minister for justice Jason Azzopardi said that the PN is completely disgusted by the situation, more so with the PM's reaction of smirking and claiming he is glad she came forward.
"A whistleblower has guts. A whistleblower risks everything so it is so disgusting that the PM is trying to discredit those who have the courage and guts to come forward, the same PM and government who brought in the whistleblower Act.
"I support the appeal of Dr Fenech Adami for more people to come forward and kill corruption in this country. It is a shame and also shocking that there is a campaign against the current whistleblowers".
New PN candidate Roselyn Borg said the PM reacted by lying and trying to confuse the public instead of taking the allegations seriously.