PN Leader Simon Busuttil said that the Prime Minister’s position was no longer tenable after Magistrate Aaron Bugeja launched “a third criminal investigation” into the allegations of kickbacks and money laundering concerning his inner circle.
Dr Busuttil, who was speaking at a political activity in Paola, said that he did expect the Prime Minister to do so after failing to take any action ever since the Panama Papers reveal.
The government had earlier announced that Magistrate Bugeja had sent the allegations made by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, on alleged payments by OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri to Adrian Hillman, before another Magistrate.
“This is a decision that does not only confirm the legitimacy of my evidence, the position of the PM is untenable since he and Schembri are one in the same. The PM has no moral authority to lead this nation,” Dr Busuttil told the crowd who began chanting ‘barra’.
“He will remain there, arrogantly, as though Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi are above the law.
“He will stay there for another week and a half, then the people will remove him with their votes!”
The PN Leader said that the Magistrate’s reports also made a second interesting point. Dr Busuttil said that the report says that the Egrant Inquiry will require a number of foreign and local experts, while the police already work round the clock to ensure that the inquiry be published as soon as possible, especially considering that the nature of the inquiry is delicate and complex.
He claimed that the report said that the inquiry will take a considerably long time to be finished, and will require a number of expenses.
This, Dr Busuttil says, is crucial as it indicates the complexity of the case, in spite of Dr Muscat asserting that the Egrant allegations are completely false.
“Who will the public choose on 3 June. A man who is another a criminal investigation, or the other who is committed to finally cleaning up the corrupt political system once and for all!”
Last week, Opposition Leader went before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja with eight boxes of “irrefutable proof” on the allegations involving Mr Schembri and Mr Hillman, who is the former managing director of Allied Newspapers.
He had already gone before the same magistrate with ‘proof’ that Mr Schembri had received kickbacks from Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna, with the money originating from the controversial IIP scheme. Magistrate Bugeja said those allegations should go before another magistrate. Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras was later appointed to lead an inquiry into those claims.
Dr Bugeja was originally tasked with investigating claims, by Daphne Caruana Galizia, and supported by a former employee of Pilatus Bank, that Michelle Muscat, the PM’s wife, is the ultimate beneficial owner of Egrant Inc, the third mysterious Panama company. Mrs Muscat denies the claims and she and her husband have sued Caruana Galizia.
Succession Duty
Dr Busuttil announced that a PN-led administration would remove succession duty.
Succession duty refers to an inheritance tax upon the transfer of property family businesses, both on property and on company shares, from one generation to another.
He also referenced the initial proposals outlined in his party’s vision for the health sector in Malta.
