Former European Commissioner John Dalli yesterday refused to answer questions put by this newspaper about new Olaf probe into a trip he took to Singapore when he still occupied the Brussels post, before he was made to resign over a separate tobacco directive scandal.
The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed that OLAF is in the midst of a brand new investigation in connection with four trips he made to the Bahamas and at least one trip he made to Singapore. Reliable sources said that this is a completely new probe, and is not connected to the snus scandal.
The European Commission's Code of Conduct prohibits commissioners from engaging in any work other than that directly related to their roles as European Commissioners.
When contacted by this newspaper for his reaction about investigations on the fresh allegations, Mr Dalli argued that he was not informed by OLAF about new investigations, and enquired who the sources behind the reports were.
(OLAG's Giovanni Kessler)
Pressed on whether he denies making a trip to Singapore, Mr Dalli refused to answer, and instead questioned again whether local media houses are orchestrating things. "OLAF has been playing this game for a while now, and news agencies are merely choosing to believe them." Asked to give his side of the story, Mr Dalli again refused to answer questions.
Instead, he accused independent media of having co-ordinated Sunday's reports against him. "I do not believe in coincidences," he said, "Two independent media have chosen to make such reports on the same day, for reasons I am not aware of."
The questions which John Dalli refused to answer
- Did you know that you were being investigated? If yes, when were you informed?
- Is it true that you visited Bahamas four times?
- Do you deny going to Singapore?
- What was the purpose of the visits?
- Why didn't you inform the Commission that you were going?