Home Affairs Minister Michael Falzon would not say whether he agrees that police commissioner should go, only saying that it will be up to the next Prime Minister.
The minister was asked by The Malta Independent whether he will continue to vouch for the Police commissioner given the calls for his removal, and that both PL Leadership contenders have indicated that they would replace him. The minister then avoided the question.
Farrugia said: "I think that the police have continuously conducted their investigations pari passu with Europol. Europol was part of the investigations and worked hand-in-hand with the police, and so where the investigations come in one can say that they were conducted together. For this reason, on my part, I will say that the police did most of their work well so much so that they were praised by the EU delegation that was in Malta," he said.
Told by this newsroom that he did not answer the question, and that he was asked specifically about the police commissioner, he was again asked whether he supports the idea that he be replaced or whether he stands by him, the minister said: "I think one awaits for the trust that there would be of the Prime Minister who will be elected. I leave it in the hands of the Prime Minister who has the authority to leave the commissioner or decide whether that police commissioner is to be removed. What I can say is that we have an entity that was praised by the delegation of MEPs who came to Malta who said that the police did their work well, and that continuously the police in their investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia involved Europol. The Commissioner and investigators, in opportune times had immediately asked for aid from the Dutch scene of crime unit and the FBI."
He said that the police as well as all entities that were part of the investigation reached a successful result.
Told that the Lead Investigator Keith Arnaud told a court yesterday that Doctor Adrian Vella had passed a note to Yorgen Fenech from Keith Schembri, he was asked why nobody was charged over it. "One has to let the investigations take place. Eventually we need to see if the declarations made are real. Eventually if they are real then steps will be taken, if they are found not to be real steps would be taken against those who made false declarations." He clarified that the lead inspector was testifying about what others had told him.
Asked about the Egrant forged documents, and what action is being taken, the minister said that investigations are still ongoing. "Every time I spoke in Parliament and was asked I have always said that it is not enough for there to be an allegation but you need concrete evidence. In the murder of Caruana Galizia there were indications and when there was concrete evidence, people were arraigned for their alleged involvement. On Egrant it will be the same thing, as it is in every case that is investigated." He stressed the need in all cases for concrete evidence for action to be taken.