Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat denies having any kind of relationship with former Malta gaming authority employee Iosif Galea, who is currently suspected of criminal conspiracy together with leaking MGA insider information.

Galea, currently a gaming consultant is being chased by Maltese authorities to face charges and has been arrested in Italy.

It was reported on The Times of Malta on Sunday that the former MGA employee was arrested whilst on holiday with his partner in a group which included the Muscats. Galea was also wanted by the German government and a European Arrest Warrant since last year.

Muscat denied any connection to Galea’s case, saying that “to indicate to the contrary is not only gratuitous but also totally baseless sensationalism”.

He added that Galea was in the group because he is the boyfriend to a long-time friend of his, who also happened to be in the group.

“We were travelling with a larger group of friends and acquaintances for a short holiday. A few hours after our arrival we were informed that Mr Galea was being detained. The rest of the group continued with our holiday and returned to Malta a few days later as planned,” he told the newspaper.

Muscat also said that he was not informed about any arrest warrants placed against Galea.

Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has recently also put a heavy weight on the Malta Police Force in the mismanagement of the Iosif Galea’s case, querying how he had been allowed to leave the country when there was a European Arrest Warrant out for him.