Nationalist Party MP Francis Zammit Dimech has slammed the Government for “desperately” trying to confuse the public, by equating a licensed lawyer or accountant carrying out their work within the financial services sector, with people employing offshore vehicles to personally benefit.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Dr Zammit Dimech said:

“Contrary to what was alleged via the Labour Party propaganda machine, I would like to make it clear that I never had, do not have and will not have a secret company in Panama or any similar jurisdiction like Konrad Mizzi [no-portfolio Minister] and Keith Schembri [Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff]. I need to make it clear that contrary to the lies being shared by the PL media, when searching my name in the Panama Papers database – which is now public for all to see – my personal name does not show up anywhere.

“At the same time, I would like to clarify that as a lawyer – and after my post as a Government Minister ended, I launched my legal firm together with other people. Part of my work in the office was to incorporate companies, registered and licensed with the Malta Financial Services Authority, as part of my fiduciary commitments.

“As a fact, the companies were never registered in Panama and there was never an attempt made to hide the personal interests of somebody in politics. In addition to this, on 15 August 2014, I resigned from that company and today I have no financial interests or otherwise within the company.

“There has been an effort to place everybody in the same basket, such as the likes of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri who opened up secret companies, for their personal interest, in Panama – with lawyers who are offering corporate services. They also checked with nine banks around the world so that their secret company would also have a bank account.

“Comparing Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri with any lawyer or accountant who is licensed to offer services in the financial sector for their clients proves the Government’s current state of desperation.

“In simpler words, let us take the criminal aspect: they are saying that a lawyer who defends somebody accused of committing a crime in court should be found guilty themselves of what their clients are accused of.

“I would like to take the opportunity to reaffirm that no form of intimidation will be stopping me from continuing my work, especially my political work with loyalty towards the Maltese population. I am determined more than ever before to continue my work.”

 The Malta Independent contacted Dr Zammit Dimech yesterday evening when the second phase of the Panama Papers broke, who said similar comments to what was said in the above statement. He expressed grave concern with the Government attacking financial services sector, something which both sides of the House had initially sought to protect.