Instead of taking responsibility for the outrageous failure that led to charges being dropped against the business partner of Prime Minister Robert Abela, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà referred the case to a board appointed by the Government, seemingly in an attempt to wash his hands of the matter, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.

For the PN, "it is clear that this move by Commissioner Gafà is a desperate attempt to save his own skin by shifting responsibility onto others".

The PN said it is informed that the Police Inspector on whom Gafà is trying to pin all the blame had previously been investigated for attempting a cover-up intended to protect Labour Party politicians and their close associates.

In 2017, this same Inspector was dismissed from the Force following a decision by the Public Service Commission in connection with a separate case. The inspector whom Gafà is now trying to use as a scapegoat was reinstated into the Force at a time when Angelo Gafà himself held administrative responsibility for the force as its Chief Executive, the PN said.

The PN also noted that Commissioner Gafà did not request for this case to be investigated by a magistrate through a magisterial inquiry. This is yet another clear indication that Gafà does not want the whole truth about this case to emerge. There is only one explanation for Gafà's actions: he fears that a proper investigation could lead to criminal charges being filed in court, and could even implicate him personally, the PN said.

For this reason, the PN said it finds it unacceptable that our country continues to have a Police Commissioner who is completely compromised - one who, when faced with yet another blatant case of impunity, seeks refuge in a board appointed by the government.

The PN reiterated that no one in the country today believes that this case, and others like it, are mere "mistakes." The public, including many professional police officers, has every right to be outraged by the impunity that Commissioner Angelo Gafà is guaranteeing to Labour politicians and their associates.

The PN said it maintains its position that Angelo Gafà's role as Police Commissioner is no longer tenable and that he should have resigned or been removed long ago.