The government had a duty to listen to Darryl Luke Borg, whose arrest over a crime he did not commit sparked a Police Board inquiry, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today.

Mr Borg’s meeting with the chief of staff at the Home Affairs Ministry, Silvio Scerri, last Tuesday sparked controversy after the opposition spokesman on home affairs, Jason Azzopardi claimed that Mr Scerri had used a convicted criminal, Charles Attard, as an intermediary. Mr Attard, known as iz-Zambi, had served time over the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana in 1994.

Dr Azzopardi had also pointed out that it was unprecedented – and unacceptable – for a ministry to talk to the main witnesses of an independent inquiry, ahead of their testimony.

But the government has denied the MP’s version of events, stating that Mr Borg had himself requested the meeting.

Speaking to journalists during a visit to the National Archives, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that once Mr Borg, who was wrongfully arrested, came forward to state that he wanted to discuss new information on the case with the ministry, the government was obliged to listen.

The prime minister also said that Mr Scerri subsequently advised Mr Borg that the information he provided should be passed on to the Police Board.

Asked to comment on Mr Attard’s role, Dr Muscat said that he appeared to be trusted by Mr Borg, and that Mr Borg was free to take whoever he wished to the meeting.