The Nationalist Party today spoke about the dangerous ties which exist between the Prime Minister’s Office, Gaffarena and former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit, calling for the latter's removal. Ray Zammit is currently heading a local enforcement agency and acting director of prison.
The PN was speaking following the publication of a report of the inquiry carried out by judge Michael Mallia on former Police Inspector Daniel Zammit’s involvement in the investigation of the murder of Neville Baldacchino. The report found that Inspector Zammit did not behave ethically in the investigation of the murder. Judge Mallia also found that the behaviour of Mr Zammit’s brother Roderick, a serving police inspector, and his father Ray, a former acting Police Commissioner and later deputy commissioner until he retired in May, was improper.
PN MP Jason Azzopardi said the inquiry found that proceedings in a murder case have been delayed by former inspector Daniel Zammit, who was leading prosecutor in the case. The scene of the murder – a house in Qormi - has been demolished to make way for new apartments when a scene of the crime should be preserved and not destroyed.
He said that Ray Zammit, who had been appointed by the Prime Minister, had been implicated in a cover-up in the shooting involving the then driver of former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia, and was removed from acting police commissioner.
PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said now that the inquiry conclusions have been released, responsibilities have to be shouldered. He referred to the Old Mint Street property controversy involving Marco Gaffarena who was made a millionaire overnight by the government, and the fact that Gaffarena was given a permit to operate a petrol station.
He also said that the Zammit family has commercial interests with Gaffarena. Dr Fenech Adami said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has a lot to answer to for giving shelter to the Zammit family.
The PN urged the government to publish the emails on who took the decision to place Daniel and Roderick Zammit together in the economic crimes unit.
Asked whether he knew that the Zammits had close ties with “dubious characters” when he was government spokesperson for the police, Dr Beppe Fenech Adami replied in the negative. He referred to Justice Minister Owen Bonnici’s praise over Ray Zammit’s new appointment in parliament recently, despite the fact that he knew Mr Zammit was being investigated.
Dr Fenech Adami said that the Home Affairs Minister who is responsible for the police did not even bother to issue a statement following this inquiry.
He said that the current problem of the Police Force is that politicians are interfering in its decisions.
Asked whether he ever met Gaffarena, Dr Fenech Adami said he met him at a reception one time but could not recall whether he met him some other time.
On David Gonzi – former PM Lawrence Gonzi’s son – he said that he is not a member of the PN when asked whether Dr Gonzi’s alleged involvement in companies which have links with the Mafia has embarrassed the PN.
Government reacts
The government said in a statement that the Opposition should keep in mind that the cases mentioned by the PN during its news conference and which were looked into by an inquiry board took place when the PN was in government.