No matter which way they try to slice it, the latest revelation in the long hospitals saga, specifically regarding Joseph Muscat and his phone, or as I like to call it, phonegate, is the ultimate proof that the man has ample to hide.
Naturally, now, we cannot be certain to the extent of the data that has been lost, and the evidence that might have been deleted forever. What we know for certain is that Joseph Muscat had the foresight to research how to wipe his phone well in advance of his device being taken, and actually doing it.
The country was already shocked and disgusted when news broke that Joseph Muscat refused to divulge his secret lock code to his phone to the investigators. It was already an admission of fault on his part. When asked, he retorted with his trademark insolence, that he didn't intend to make it easy for the police, now was he?
But now, this goes beyond simply being cheeky and perhaps not playing ball. This is actively standing in the way of an active investigation, for malicious intent.
Isn't the tampering, nay destruction, of evidence a crime in itself, punishable at law? Of course it is, and the justice system usually descends like a tonne of bricks on any other criminal if they are caught trying to make contact with witnesses or tamper with evidence in any way. I wonder how this development will affect the proceedings.
I also wonder what puerile excuse Joseph Muscat will have the brazenness to produce this time round. Of course he will tell us that he didn't want to facilitate things, and he will surely put on quite the spectacular pity party. Perhaps he was hiding a super secret recipe or coordinates for a secret fishing spot? I'm not sure!
We're not fools, Joseph Muscat! You might be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time! The writing has been on the wall for quite some time. Now, there is no shadow of a doubt.
No wonder Joseph Muscat has been so confident that the court wouldn't be able to find any proof of wrongdoing on his behalf. Perhaps, in some unprecedented moment of catharsis, technology will have the upper hand on the former Prime Minister, and reveal more than he ever hoped would be found.
This whole embarrassing episode goes hand in hand with the magisterial inquiry reform which the government managed to pass through Parliament last Wednesday, making it effectively harder for a private individual to seek justice from our courts. This was the ultimate tool in the hand of Joe Public, to obtain judicial redress in a free and just society. The only ones fearing this tool, in a context where the police force is largely incompetent in the face of the mighty, are those who have a great deal to hide.
Anyone who has nothing to hide, has nothing to fear, and can face justice serenely and happily in that knowledge. The same cannot be said for the guilty, who will go through extreme lengths to dismantle the tool box of justice for their own, and their associates' personal gains.
On a smaller, yet enormously significant scale, Joseph Muscat clearing his phone from all data is equivalent to the same moral deficit.
We must continue to stand up to this kind of behaviour, and show it for what it is. We must continue to state clearly that what is right, remains right whatever the circumstance, and what is wrong remains wrong in the same way. Only then, can we hope to have a fair society that treats all of its citizens in the same way.
Alexander Mangion is Deputy Mayor of Attard