Civil Society NGO Repubblika has reiterated its call for Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar to resign in a protest held outside her offices in Valletta.

“Rosianne Cutajar is obliged to explain to us why in four years the only time she spoke in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was to undermine the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Cauana Galizia and defend Yorgen Fenech,” Repubblika President Robert Aquilina said. 

“The Parliamentary Secretary should tell us why after everyone knew Yorgen Fenech owned 17 Black, she maintained a relationship with him and accepted gifts worth thousands of euros,” he said. 

Robert Abela needs to explain whether he finds it acceptable that Cutajar received money and never declared it.  He said that both Abela and Cutajar have the obligation to answer and explain to the people their decision.

“It’s useless trying to use the Standards Commissioner as a protector for your silence.  We, the people, are asking.  We, the people, are expecting answers”, he said.

Cutajar has been under fire ever since it emerged that she allegedly pocketed thousands of euro from a failed property deal involving Yorgen Fenech.

According to reports, Fenech and her close associate Charles Farrugia ‘it-Tikka’ had helped broker the Mdina €3.1 property deal. Fenech was trying to purchase the property from a certain Joe Camilleri. The deal fell through after Fenech’s November 2019 arrest and arraignment, and Camilleri is said to be chasing Cutajar to have her return a €46,500 brokerage fee he had paid her.

Cutajar reportedly received a further €9,000 in cash from Fenech, while Farrugia received €31,000.

Standards Commissioner George Hyzler is investigating the allegations. Cutajar has refused to resign or suspend herself, despite mounting pressure, and has provided scant answers to journalists’ questions.

Times of Malta reported on Sunday that Cutajar had solicited help from Fenech for a political survey in her district in 2019, and that Fenech had promised her “some money.”

Photos and Video: Giuseppe Attard