Prime Minister Robert Abela said today a court decree freezing the assets of former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri is a sign of ‘good governance’.
Speaking to Malta Today, he refused to consider that inquiries should be held on such major projects such as the Electrogas power plan or the Individual Investor Programme.
“I speak for my administration... there’s no doubt that all the institutions are robust, they’re discharging their duties without interference. This is the country I believe in: strong economic growth coupled with good governance,” Abela told MaltaToday on Tuesday morning.
“If there is any investigation that is required – and investigations have indeed taken place – any shortcomings must be investigated. It doesn’t mean that if you had one or two persons who committed something wrong, then either Electrogas or the IIP should be scrapped… indeed the IIP’s revenue has allowed us to launch the COVID-wage supplement.”
With regard to the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the PM said that it should not go beyond the three-month extension already given. “I don’t agree that such a public inquiry should take so long, and that is why I want the public inquiry to be over by December 2020; so that any remedial action can be taken on the basis of that inquiry.
Schembri is under arrest and being questioned by the police.
A court on Monday issued an order to freeze all assets held by Schembri, his companies and his wife, and Brian Tonna, managing partner of Nexia BT, among others.