PN Leader Simon Busuttil this morning said that the road to clean governance is “long and hard” when commenting on the latest magisterial inquiry which involves the Panama Papers scandal was launched.
Last week a magistrate accepted Busuttil’s request for an investigation on whether Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, among others, broke money laundering laws when opening secret companies in Panama. The request had also called to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. It also covers Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, Kasco Limited employee Malcolm Scerri and former Allied Newspapers Limited managing director Adrian Hillman.
All seven have appealed the decree.
Speaking on Radio 101, Busuttil said that it was in "our interests that the country is run by honest people. Whenever people see the PM, Mizzi, or Schembri deal with foreign investors, we all wonder if they are taking a cut. There is a doubt on their integrity."
He said that the appeal showed that the three were resisting the criminal investigation as they did not want it to take place.
The PN Leader also referenced the case of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was removed by the Supreme Court after facing serious allegations of corruption, with direct involvement in the Panama Papers.
He said that the Maltese PM thought that the election would wipe the slate clean. “We have come to a situation where the laws do not apply equally to the same people. It should have been the PM, Attorney General, or Police Commissioner to instigate this investigation."
He said the government had first denied that this was a criminal investigation but then appealed the decision. “If this is not a criminal investigation, then why have they appealed?” The appeal, he said, raised even more questions.
He accused the PM, Schembri and Mizzi of doing their utmost so that justice is not carried out.
He also pointed out that the appeal was filed on a day when the duty judge was Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, who is the husband of Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi. “How can justice be done when the judge’s wife is a Labour MEP,” he asked.
Busuttil insisted he would keep fighting corruption even after he is no longer PN leader. He also said the new leader will have the responsibility to keep up the fight for justice.
Reacting, the Labour Party said Busuttil wanted to be in control of his successor. “He should do the party a favour and stop dictating about the new leader.” It said Busuttil was tasking his successor to keep up the ‘negative’ fight against corruption only because he wanted to save his own skin. The PL also took exception with Busuttil’s comparisons of Malta to Pakistan and Brazil and said these negative tactics had not worker for the PN leader before.