Home Affairs Minister Carmela Abela lied about plans to expropriate Palazzo Verdelin, PN MP Jason Azzopardi said in a news conference this morning.

Dr Azzopardi said that in response to a parliamentary question in June, the minister had denied that government planned to expropriate the building, and that he again denied in response to questions by the press in July. The MP added that through revelations by the press last Sunday, in which correspondence between the Lands Department, the Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, as well as the minister were revealed, it became evident that the Minister lied.

The PN MP said that this type of behaviour is unacceptable, adding that if the Prime Minister doesn't take action against a Minister caught lying on a subject that is so black and white, then it means that Joseph Muscat is the brain behind the scandals involving Gaffarena. "Who pushed the Minister to lie?" he asked.

The MP said that if the minister wasn't trying to hide the truth, then "why would he lie?"

The building currently houses the Valletta police station, and was allegedly targeted by Marco Gaffarena. Gaffarena was allegedly in talks with the owners of Palazzo Verdelin.

Also at the conference was PN candidate Alan Abela Wadge who said that the people have a reason to lose trust in the police force under the current administration. "Both Home Affairs Ministers were caught lying".

Government again denies plans for expropriation

In reaction, the government again denied that it had any plans to acquire or expropriate Palazzo Verdelin. “This state of fact brings to nothing the Opposition’s misleading arguments and exposes its systematic lying. The Opposition is trying to hide the close links it has with the Gaffarena family.” It said PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami lied when he tried to cover up his connections with the Gaffarenas. The test is whether the Oppsotion Leader will take action against his deputy for lying.”

The government said Minister Abela had clearly replied to a PQ by Jason Azzopardi that the government had no intention of buying the property that houses the Valletta police station. That reply still stands.

The government said the facts were as follows: The Commissioner for Lands received a letter from Ganado Advocates on behalf of the heir, Antonio Zammit, Mark Gaffarena and B Tagliaferro and Sons Ltd, where he was asked to vacate the property and return it to its owners.

There are 12 co-proprietors that pay rent on Palazzo Verdelin. These are; Ms Deborah Bonello Du Puis, Ms Tanya Borg Cardona, Dr Peter Caruana Galizia, Ms Therese Demajo, Mark Gaffarena, Ms Yvonne Galea, Mr Charles Grech, Mr Malcolm Soler, B Tagliaferro and Sons Ltd., Messrs Dorothy & Mark Zammit, Mr Joe Zammit and Mr Victor Zammit.

As per procedure, the Lands Department wrote to the Permanent Secretary at the Home Affairs Ministry and informed him about this request. The Minister took a conscious decision and was willing to face legal procedures for keeping the conditions of the lease as they are, and not expropriate or buy the building. The government also noted that the ongoing IAID investigation also covers Palazzo Verdelin.

PN challenges goverment to publish emails

In a reply, the PN said that Dr Muscat and Dr Abela are again lying to protect their relationship with Gaffarena. The party challenged the government to publish all emails relating to Palazzo Verdelin.

It said that the government had decided to expropriate and not purchase Palazzo Verdelin ‘due to recent media hype on the acquisition of property by the government’, referring to Café Premier.

Fenech Adami's lies 'evident' - PL

The Labour Party said in another statement that the people could see the difference between a Prime Minister who called an investigation on every allegation made and took the recommended action and an Opposition leader who said a lot but was only interested in covering up for those around him.

Simon Busuttil’s deputy lied in the most evident manner to try to hide his relationship with Mr Gaffarena.

When this was uncovered by the media, he lied again saying he had already said he had been Mr Gaffarena’s lawyer.

This, was a double lie, the PL said.

Muscat's Gaffarena's biggest ally - PN

In another statement this evening, the PN said Joseph Muscat was Mark Gaffarena’s “biggest ally” and was defending a minister who lied about the controversial businessman and another one who was involved with Gaffarena in a scandal.

It said the PM was weak because, instead of taking steps against the Home Affairs Minister he is defending him because the indications are that the PM himself forced Mr Abela to lie in order to cover up the relationship with Gaffarena.

He is also weak because he chose to defend Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon instead of taking steps against him over the Old Mint Street scandal.

Joseph Muscat was Gaffarena’s biggest ally because: he issued the permits for Gaffarena’s illegal petrol station, he failed to take action against Michael Falzon, who was personally involved in the Old Mint Street scandal, and is defending Carmelo Abela, who is still lying over the talks to expropriate Palazzo Verdelin.

The PN said more than 48 hours have passed since Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil challenged Joseph Muscat to withdraw the petrol pump permit, revoke the sale of two quarters of the Old Mint Street property, bind himself not to buy anything else from Gaffarena, remove the Lands Department and MEPA from his portfolio, take action against Michael Falzon, former Police Inspector Daniel Zammit and his brother, Inspector Roderick Zammit, and remove Ray Zammit from Acting Prison Director and Head of the wardens agency. “Muscat is weak because he does not fight corruption,” the PN said. “He has ended up leading a more corrupt government than those of Dom Mintoff and Lorry Sant.”