Dr Adrian Vella was arrested by police after Yorgen Fenech told investigators about a handwritten note that the doctor had passed on to him from Keith Schembri, sources have told this newsroom.

The doctor was arrested in connection with messages that may have been passed through to Fenech while he is in police custody.

Sources told The Malta Independent that Schembri allegedly told Fenech – through the doctor – not to expose anything about him (Schembri).

Sources have now said that the message was passed on to Fenech through a handwritten note. The doctor allegedly passed on the note to Fenech while examining him. Fenech later handed the note over to officers investigating the case.

It us understood that Vella is the doctor that saw Fenech when the latter was taken to hospital on Saturday after complaining of chest pains.

Telephone logs also show that Schembri and Fenech were in regular contact.

Schembri has been under arrest since Tuesday morning, and his 48 hours elapse on Thursday morning. He resigned from the post of OPM chief of staff on Tuesday.

Fenech was arrested for the fourth time on Wednesday.

Both Schembri and Fenech are being interrogated at the police headquarters, with officers cross-checking the information being provided by both men.