Former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri was present for all the meetings about the inquiries surrounding the assassination of Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in which Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was present, the latter said. Bonnici also said that he was only present for a few of these meetings.

Bonnici was being quizzed by the press following a press conference.

Yesterday, middleman Melvin Theuma and lead investigator Keith Arnaud testified in court the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech. A journalist pointed out to Bonnici that his name was mentioned during Arnaud's testimony, who said that whilst attending a meeting, there was Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, former Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Justice

"I have no reason to doubt the assertion of the inspector." When asked how many meetings Schembri was present for regarding the murder, Bonnici said that he participated in a few meetings, yet in the few he did participate in Schembri was present.

"I do not know how many off-hand, but there were very few meetings which I participated in, and Schembri was always present. Up until that time, the name of Keith Schembri never surfaced in the investigation. I only learnt about Keith Schembri being mentioned as to all that is happening after the pardon was granted to the middleman."

Justice Minister was also asked =about Chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency and OneTV Chairman Jason Micallef's statement regarding party debates.

According to Justice Minister Owen Bonnici Jason Micallef was speaking on how, logistically, the Labour Party should organise the debates in the lead up to the election for the new leader.

In a Facebook post, Former PL secretary General Jason Micallef said he wants leadership debates to be restricted to party media and that the aim of 'other media' is to create controversy that leads to tension.

Asked about this, Bonnici said: "I believe Micallef was speaking logistically on how the Labour Party should organise these debates in the lead up to the new leader. I do not believe Jason meant that no candidate should speak to the media, but he is saying that debates between the candidates should be held by the regulations of the Labour Party," explained Bonnici. He said that when there was the leadership for deputy leader in the past, the same thing was done also, that such debates were held under the regulation of the party.