AD leader reacts to Commissioner's investigation
AD leader Harry Vassallo said this afternoon that he welcomed the fact that the Commissioner of Police appeared to have taken up his suggestion for an independent inquiry into the circumstances leading to him being notified on Wednesday about an arrest warrant issued by the courts five months ago.
Dr Vassallo said he wished to thank the hundreds of people who had expressed solidarity with him and his family.
There was no doubt, he said, that this was an attempt by the PN and Media.Link to embarrass him a few hours before the end of the electoral campaign. The Police Commissioner's investigation today, he said, had not been conducted because he had been informed by the police of the arrest warrant but because it was too much of a coincidence for the Media.link journalist to raise the matter just a few hours before the police officers turned up.
Dr Vassallo said he had a meeting with the Commissioner this morning and they agreed that this coincidence deserved further investigation in order to protect the reputation of the police. However it would be very difficult to prove the involvement of people outside the police force.
Dr Vassallo said that while he had given an account of what had happened, it would appear to be difficult for the Commissioner to draw such an account from the journalist because of the privileges which journalists enjoyed.
It appeared, Dr Vassallo said, that the police commissioner agreed with his proposal for an independent inquiry because he could not investigate the matter further himself owing to his role as defender of the reputation of the force, which had been blemished by this coincidence which could not but be suspicious.
However it would also be difficult for the Police board to find traces of anyone's involvement and it might therefore never be known how this coincidence occurred, Dr Vassallo said
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In Discussion
17 Comments
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M.Ellis
Mar 6th 2008, 19:58
Boring! As you say Harry, there is no evidance to to prove anything. You are just speculating that since a journalist did his/her job, then there is a conspiracy. Perhaps, if you opened your eyes, ears and common sense during the last 10 years (where it now transpires that you ARE responsible for the company after all) you would not be in this position today. I must say I am very dissapointed at AD and especially yourself for the childish manner you handled this. No more AD votes from me I'm afraid.
Alex Ellul
Mar 6th 2008, 19:20
Keep on crying Harry. Try Freddie's shoulder.
J. Callus
Mar 6th 2008, 19:09
Disgraceful. Is this the way that Dr Vassallo wants to grab a few more votes from Sliema?
Jeffrey Mallia
Mar 6th 2008, 19:04
Dear Dr Vassallo, the investigation today by the Police Commissioner was held because you did your best to spin the whole story. So much for a new way of doing politics.
Mike Farrugia
Mar 6th 2008, 19:02
AD didn't deny that the police went to investigate the house robbery and not to arrest him.
AD still has to explain if they approve that Dr Vassallo didn't pay these fines imposed by the cout.
Victor Grech
Mar 6th 2008, 18:59
I am a confirmed Nationalist but I have always admired AD for their dogged determination as the underdogs.
This latest incident has shown a very different side of AD and in particular its leader HV. He is administratively inept, politically opportunistic and has been shown to not practice what he preaches.
His attacks on the PN have backfired because it is now crystal clear that the PN had nothing to do other than asking a question about a fact that was known amongst journalists.
It had to be coincidental unless a) the theft was carried out by the PN and b) the PN strategists are really daft!
Rita Galea
Mar 6th 2008, 18:57
Isthi Harry!
M Farrugia
Mar 6th 2008, 18:55
You did not file your company's VAT returns. You failed to pay the resulting fines. And now you expect our vote to lead us?? err... thanks but no thanks.
Robert Vella
Mar 6th 2008, 18:51
Harry, why don't you comment about the Comm of Police's statement?
Is it true that the police spoke to you in connection with a theft next door to your vacant property?
Is it true that they just asked you to regularise your position and did not in fact attempt to arrest you?
How is your failure to submit the VAT returns of a company of which you are shareholder, the PN's fault?
We want answers Harry. And kindly do not insult our intelligence any further.
Jeffrey Mallia
Mar 6th 2008, 18:51
Dr Vassallo has learnt fast from his political clone, Dr Sant, how to avoid answering the main point: why did he mislead yesterday?
Claudia Formosa
Mar 6th 2008, 18:46
Is Clean Harry going to settle his dues like the rest of us common mortals?
And by the way, well done for the vacant property. If he rents it out, he might go some way to paying his tax bill.
J. Callus
Mar 6th 2008, 18:42
What a load of rubbish. Clean Harry didn't even bother to mention the fact why yesterday he omitted all the other facts which were divulged by the Police today. What a disgrace.
Anna Borg
Mar 6th 2008, 18:42
'There was no doubt, he said, that this was an attempt by the PN and Media.Link to embarrass him a few hours before the end of the electoral campaign.'
At least he has the decency to admit that it is embarrassing!
Trevor Demarco
Mar 6th 2008, 18:42
It is interesting that Harry Vassallo has not even bothered to defend the statements issued by the Police Commissioner and is clutching at the straw that is journalist privilege. The facts are now stark. There was a burglary (PN instigated?!?!), the police paid a visit, reminded him about the small matter of Lm6K being owed and the conversion to imprisonment and suggested that – empathetically – that he regularize his position.
Harry jumped on the opportunity to sling mud at the Nats and it rightly backfired as he implicated an innocent third party.
His image as a do-gooder has been severely tarnished. He should just quit the game and go into a decently paid job!
Randolph Bugeja
Mar 6th 2008, 18:40
Well done Harry... first you throw mud, then you tell us that there might not be any evidence.. now you also start referring to it as a 'coincidence'.
You'll feel at home in the AD - MLP coalition.
Clive Demicoli
Mar 6th 2008, 18:40
Dr Vassallo is still shareholder, director and company secretary of the company in question. (MFSA registry of companies). He hasn't sent the forms. He gets a fine. He doesn't pay. Somehow he tries to portray himself as the victim. He spins the whole thing as a PN machination. Why should the PN give a platform to Harry two days before an election? i leave it to you all to answer
Jeffrey Mallia
Mar 6th 2008, 18:39
First Harry Vassallo spews up spin, and now his major concern is preserving the reputation of the Police Force. I doubt now that anybody believes him anymore.