The board of inquiry appointed to investigate the assassination of independent journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has had enough time to come to a conclusion and should come to a close by the deadline, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.
The public inquiry in question has been going on for a year (starting 6 December 2019) and it was given an extension last September due to delays that were caused when the courts closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline stands at 15 December; Tuesday next week.
On Monday morning, the PM was asked by the media if he believes that the public inquiry should be given another extension.
He said that he has faith that the inquiry board will be able to arrive at a conclusion by the end of the deadline that was given last September.
Pressed to confirm if he thinks that the inquiry board should have another extension, the PM said; “I have already made my stand clear. The inquiry should close by then as it has been given enough time already and I have not received requests to extend the deadline.”
Notably, last October, the inquiry board indicated that it will go over the deadline if needs be due the proviso for the proper fulfilment of the terms of reference of the inquiry board, on which the extension agreement is based.
Last Friday, former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat testified.