OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri has issued a statement through the Department of Information stating that PN Leader Simon Busuttil “has gone utterly over the edge yesterday.”

He was referring to the heated debate between Dr Busuttil and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, where Dr Busuttil made a number of accusations against Keith Schembri and released a number of FIAU reports.

“Any contention that I have sought - or received - ‘kickbacks’, commissions, or any other kind of payment while in government is false.  I have always maintained this, for it is the truth.”  

“I have been subject to a co-ordinated smear campaign for well over a year, but this latest fabrication is nothing short of criminal.”

“Simon Busuttil’s latest publicity stunt shows how desperate he is for power and will not think twice to put at risk the country’s economic future - and our most basic principles of fairness and justice.”