Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the “concerted attack” by the “usual suspects” has “resumed”, and pledged to “make sure that those who are manipulating facts are pursued through justice when time comes, and that truth prevails, even if I am alone in doing this.”

Muscat was referring to a report which said he is being investigated for a consultancy contract with a Swiss company that could have been used to disguise payments from the Vitals-Steward hospitals deal.

The concerted attack by the usual suspects has resumed, if it ever ceased, he wrote on Facebook this morning.

“As I am no longer in politics, I will choose where and how I reply. For now, just four points," he said.

“1. I always got paid for work I have carried out. I gave evidence of this to the Magistrate and I asked her various times to be able to testify. She has never replied to my requests.

“2. In today's papers there are obvious leaks from the work being done by the Magistrate. The same had happened when there were people who were informed beforehand on what was going to happen, boasted publicly about that and even came on my doorstep to observe first hand. This betrays any form of trust. There are also other points which I will make in the right fora with the due respect for the institutions.

“3. Contrary to others, I declare my income and pay my taxes.

“4. I have already gone through all this when they came up with the Egrant lie. I will make sure that those who are manipulating facts are pursued through justice when time comes, and that truth prevails, even if I am alone in doing this.”