Former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has insisted there is "no case" against him or his wife, issuing a detailed Facebook statement hours before a report by Times of Malta was published on Monday outlining fresh developments in an ongoing police investigation.
Bartolo said that over the past year he and his wife, Amanda Muscat, had been subject to a comprehensive investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department following a report by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit that was later leaked to the media. He stated that the investigation began before December 2024 and involved extensive police work, including inquiries conducted abroad.
Throughout the process, Bartolo said the couple cooperated fully with investigators, providing all requested documentation and placing their trust in the authorities. He added that they were subject to an attachment order for several months, leaving them without access to their funds and causing hardship to their family. That order has since been lifted in his regard, though it remains in place for Muscat pending a decision by the Attorney General.
Bartolo expressed concern about what he described as renewed media questions in recent hours, arguing that the queries mirrored issues already addressed during the now-concluded investigation. He suggested that the timing of the latest reports was intended to delay a formal declaration that no charges would be filed.
The former tourism minister also rejected the premise that a minister's spouse should be prevented from working in the private sector. "Are we saying that because someone is married to a minister they cannot work privately?" he asked, stressing that the matter concerned private employment and not a government post.
According to the Times of Malta report, Muscat received over €120,000 in payments from Fortina between 2022 and 2024 while Bartolo was serving as tourism minister. Part of the wider probe also examined €50,000 in payments she received, which investigators suspect may have been linked to a Malta Tourism Authority contract awarded during Bartolo's tenure. The couple deny wrongdoing, maintaining the payments were for legitimate services rendered.
The newspaper further reported that concerns have been raised within the Office of the Attorney General as to whether sufficient evidence exists to sustain a prosecution, noting that charges should only proceed where supported by a sound evidentiary basis.
Bartolo resigned as tourism minister in November 2024 and has since served as an independent MP. He has indicated his intention to seek re-election on the Labour Party ticket and said the ongoing situation has prevented him from rejoining the parliamentary group.
In his statement, Bartolo argued that the continued scrutiny forms part of a coordinated attempt to prolong the process and undermine both him and his party. He said he is awaiting the necessary declarations from the authorities so that he can resume his political work and contest the next general election.