Prime Minister Robet Abela cannot continue defending a minister who is being criminally investigaed, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said in a statement today.

Reacting to nedia reports, Grech said a criminal investigation against Justyne Caruana has commenced.

After yesterday’s shocking declaration from the Prime Minister where he defended the minister who awarded a contract of €15,000 to a friend, there has now also been confirmation that the police opened a criminal investigation against minister Caruana, Grech said.

“This investigation should have started as soon as the facts were revealed on the media,” he added. This delay confirms the irresponsibility on the Prime Minister’s side, particularly on defending Caruana as well as having yet to remove her from her position.

“We cannot have a minister who is being investigated by the police,” said Grech. He added that the Prime Minister should learn from past mistakes.

Grech called for the immediate dismissal of Justyne Caruana as well as any other official involved in the scandal.

He added that the Standards Committee should continue to do its job and investigate accordingly.

Commissioner for Standards in Public Life George Hyzler found that the awarding of a €15,000 contract to Daniel Bogdanovic by Education Minister Justyne Caruana amounted to an “abuse of power” by the Education Minister.