The Attorney General, The Justice Minister and the Home Affairs Minister must all carry responsibility over the Darren Debono plea bargain situation, PN Beppe Fenech Adami said.

Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, sensationally pleaded guilty to his involvement in the 2010 HSBC heist on the eve of the beginning of the trial by jury of Vincent Muscat in connection with the same heist. Debono was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for his involvement in the heist, but had charges for attempted murder on policemen dropped to attempted grievous bodily harm as per a plea bargain with the Attorney General. But, when being taken to testify before the courts, he refused to identify all of his accomplices in the 2010 HSBC armed robbery. He has been arraigned over this refusal.

The decision to drop the attempted murder charge in the first place had angered police officers.

Addressing a press conference outside the Police Headquarters in Floriana, Fenech Adami said that the Attorney General must carry responsibility for what has happened. "The Justice Minister must also carry responsibility for continuing to defend this decision, and the Home Affairs Minister for not having yet taken a position as to whether he agrees with the AG's decision that angered the police so much," Fenech Adami said.

He said that the police officers were waiting for justice, but a few weeks ago, during the negotiation process with the Darren Debono, an agreement was reached to drop the most serious charge, that of attempted murder against a number of police officers. That day, he said, the police officers expressed their anger. "The Unions asked for an explanation as to what led to a person who was allegedly involved in the attempted murder of officers, to having that accusation forgiven."

Fenech Adami questioned what led to this decision, what justified that decision by the Attorney General. "We were told that we would know once the sittings begin. Yesterday we saw another scandal (...) the person given the bargain is refusing to reveal all the details regarding those involved in the hold-up."

Fenech Adami said that "we have criminals protecting each other, choosing not to say the truth. A classic case of omerta."

He said that "there were serious allegations in this case regarding people involved in politics, in the Labour Party, in Cabinet."

"I remind you that linked to this case, the name of former PL Deputy Leader Chris Cardona was mentioned as was Minister Carmelo Abela." Abela had denied any involvement in the hold-up. A PN MP had said that Cardona had been questioned by police over the hold-up, but Cardona had denied it.  

PN candidate Darren Carabott also addressed the press conference and said he remembers seeing the bank filled with police on the day of the heist. "The police were doing their job, protecting us.

"12 years later, we are seeing that all the work those police officers did being thrown away by the government," he said.

If the PN is elected to government, he said the police will be trusted and the party will fight for the rights of officers.