Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has asked the Standards Commissioner to investigate Transport Minister Clayton Bartolo after he was caught passing on questions in advance to a witness before the Public Accounts Committee.

Bartolo was caught passing on a rough draft of his questions to economist Gordon Cordina, before he was to testify on Tuesday. The witness, Cordina, said that he had received a message and an attached document with a list of questions from Clayton Bartolo, who sits on the committee, which were indicative of what was to be asked in the session.

Tuesday’s PAC meeting focused on a 2011 study analysing the use of gasoil, gas and heavy fuel oil, conducted by Cordina, who is now the chairman of Bank of Valletta.

In his letter to the Standards Commissioner, Cassola referred to the minister’s behaviour, saying that he had doubts whether it was ethical that a minister secretly passes on questions to a witness who was testifying under oath.