Minister asks police to probe corruption claims

Environment Minister George Pullicino yesterday requested the Police Commissioner to investigate the latest corruption allegations made by Jo Said in a statement allegedly given to the police and reported by the GWU's weekly newspaper It-Torċa last Sunday.

In his letter to Mr Rizzo, Mr Pullicino denied the allegations made by Mr Said and challenged him to provide the police with concrete proof of his allegations.

"I will be at your (the PoliceCommissioner's) disposal for any clarifications you need in your investigation regarding these allegations, intended only to throw mud at me in order to ruin my reputation before the general election," Mr Pullicino told Mr Rizzo.

Mr Pullicino also told the Police Commissioner that he will be filing libel proceedings against Mr Said and the GWU's newspaper over the article.

Meanwhile, Mr Said yesterday filed two separate libel suits against Nationalist MP David Agius and a Sunday Times journalist over an article entitled MP Goes To Police Over Blackmail - Criminal Investigation Launched, published last Sunday. The article reported that the police are investigating Mr Said following a formal report filed by Nationalist MP David Agius asking them to investigate and charge Mr Said with "blackmail" and "moral violence".

Labour International Secretary Joe Mifsud signed the two libel suits on behalf of Mr Said.