Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami today said that his relationship with Gaffarena was only professional and dates back to years before he was elected in parliament.

Today, local newspaper It-Torca reported that Dr Fenech Adami acted as legal counsel to three members of the Gaffarena family, despite his claims that he has no ties with the family.  Following publication, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat hit out at the deputy leader for lying.

In a reaction, Dr Fenech Adami said that he admitted to being Gaffarena's legal counsel during a press conference a few days ago.

" Marco Gaffarena is not a friend of mine. But even if it was, then what should Dr Muscat say about his relationship with Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who went on holiday with him before the deal on the property at Old Mint Street was signed?" he said.

The Deputy Leader said that no political spin will change the facts - that Gaffarena got what he wanted from the Labour, and not Nationalist Party, and that he became a multi-millionaire during a Labour administration.

He said that the Prime Minister should come clean on the permit for the operation of an illegally-built petrol station, the expropriation of property in Old Mint Street and that of the Police Station in Valletta.

"Dr Muscat is politically dishonest, attacking who is honest and defending those who are not," he concluded.