Anthony Buttigieg, leader of Partit Demokratiku, today gave evidence before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras regarding his request that the 800 files of  Panama Papers evidence passed on from the German State Police to the Maltese authorities be secured by her court.

The request was filed because PD feared that the PN’s demand for a new inquiry in front of a panel of three judges would be accepted by the government, a PD statement said. This would result in all the new information being directed separately into yet another inquiry that would lead to nowhere; rather than into its proper context as will happen if the application filed by PD is upheld.

The new evidence the German State Police have passed on may be extremely relevant to the ongoing Panama and money laundering investigations, PD said. Offshore accounts by nature are international and transactions cross many borders and domains before they reach their final resting place. The German evidence may help in completing an incomplete trail, PD said. If the two bodies of evidence are kept separate, just as a jigsaw puzzle cannot be completed without all the pieces, the opportunity may be lost to get a final and comprehensive picture of any wrong doing. 

Partit Demokratiku said its one and only concern is that the investigations into all allegations regarding money laundering and off shore accounts are completed in as full a manner as possible and without any ambiguity. Like all Maltese we want closure on this matter and for justice to be seen to be served.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras will rule on the court application later.

Last week, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja accepted a request by Nationalist MP Simon Busuttil to collect documents related to the Panama Papers which German authorities say they have in their possession, and which have connections to Malta.