Updated: Police should investigate allegations of deleted e-mails - Muscat
Any information of irregularities should be passed on to authorities - government
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Allegations that government IT officials deleted e-mails which may be crucial to the investigation into Rita Schembri, the director of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department, should be investigated by the police, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Speaking during a political activity in Mosta, Dr Muscat referred to allegations that that as soon as word of the investigation became public, IT officials deleted e-mails from computers in Ms Schembri’s government office.
He said that this claim should be investigated not just by the auditor general but also by the police.
Such a situation, Dr Muscat said, was not tolerable in a European country.
“We have to be Europeans in Malta,” he said, adding that Malta also had to be strong in its negotiations with the EU.
In a statement in the afternoon, the government said it expected all those who might have any information of irregularities, including the leader of the Opposition, to take such information to the responsible authorities, including the police, so that it could be investigated.
The government's position was consistent. Each report and/or allegation had to be investigated by the responsible authorities, including the police.
During the activity, Dr Muscat also spoke about the budget to be presented on Wednesday saying the Opposition did not know what would happen during the vote but it did not want to play with the country’s stability and wanted to put pensioners’ students’, families’, investors’ workers’ and employers’ minds at rest.
A new Labour government, he said, would retain the basis of the budget to be announced with all its positive points.
Labour was confident, he said, that the people would be judging the government not just on what they would be promised in this budget but on the full five years of the legislature.
The difference between this government and Labour, Dr Muscat said, was responsibility.
Unlike this government, Labour understood the economy and would not promise to reduce the deficit and then allow it to explode.
Dr Muscat referred to Commissioner Tonio Borg’s nomination, saying the PL had warned Dr Gonzi that his choice was problematic but the PL delegation nevertheless supported the choice and had it not been for the work of Maltese PL MEPs, Dr Borg’s nomination would not have been approved.
The PL, however, could not allow Malta to go through another humiliation in the EU.
“We worked hard for Dr Borg to be approved and we are not sorry,” Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat also referred to the EU budget negotiations and said that Malta was not getting less money because it was a victim of its own success, as the Prime Minister was claiming but because poorer countries had joined the union, placing Malta in a difficult position.
The PL, he said, had always managed to negotiate the best deals for Malta doubling, tripling and more what others would have managing to get and that is what it would continue to do.
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Mario Scicluna
Nov 26th 2012, 15:08
@Henry Micallef
Imma jahasra ma titghallmu qatt inthom ta' GonziPN?
Apparti li qed thawwad (jew apposta jew ghax verament ma tifimx) l-impjegati ta' l-IT li marru huma l-ufficju ta' Ms Schembri! Allura mhux kif qed thawwad int li jkunu fuq is-server, ghax kieku ma kienux imorru hemm mhux hekk? Ghal informazzjoni tieghek, ladarba jitnizzlu lokalment fuq il-pc , ikunu telqu minn fuq is-server!
Henry Micallef
Nov 26th 2012, 10:25
Deletion of emails is not like deleting files. An email is not stored on the hard disk of the computer but in the server. Even if deleted it can be recovered. In outlook (and I assume the government email is outlook), it takes 28 days for a deleted from trash email to be lost forever.
So its either Dr Muscat does not know his facts rights or he is lying to us all.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Nov 26th 2012, 09:00
When a serious allegation is made public by any person,more so by the leader of the opposition, whoever is responsible for home affairs should take immediate action with or without an official report by the whistle blower. Surely that if a common citizen alleges a serious crime involving another common citizen the police will take immediate action.
Jonathan Paul Cuschieri
Nov 26th 2012, 02:03
The usual...as one would expect from this banana republic mickey-mouse land!
I once fought hard, back in the eighties, to help steer this country away from corruption.
I was once proud to be a Nationalist, now I am ashamed.
This legislature has become an icon, an epitome of arrogance, bureaucratic abuse, and perjury in the face of all, particularly those who are in my situation.
JPC
Edward Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 00:57
"The PL,he said had always managed to negotiate the best deals for Malta,doubling.tripling and more what others have managed to get".Bniedem il vera Purcinell-meta qatt L-LP ghamlu dan.JM sgurr li LE dan ghadu bil-harqa fil-pulitka u meta kiem hemm Mintoff(MLP) dan minn dejjem kien jittalabb u jilaqq Il-Gaddafi u ic-
Cinizzi u jiminacca u jgheddet l-Inglisi u akkwista biss loqom. Hallina!
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 25th 2012, 23:30
“We have to be Europeans in Malta,” Ah, is that why you're sending Alfred Sant to the EU as MEP?
Victor Laiviera
Nov 26th 2012, 08:51
Indeed it is, Ms Borg. How very perceptive of you.
Bring European means being a realist an sending the people best fitted to defend your interests to Brussels.
Kevin Bonnici
Nov 25th 2012, 22:31
Can Dr Muscat give us more details on what did he do to "work hard" so that Dr Tonio Borg will be approved by the EU Parliament?
As far as I know Labour had a lot of reservations on Dr Tonio Borg. Dan jisthi jew?
Roberto Fenech
Nov 25th 2012, 22:21
"The difference between this government and Labour, Dr Muscat said, was responsibility."
Yes Dr Muscat, it takes an irresponsible party to promise the people to lower electricity tariffs no matter what. Electricity tariffs are increasing around the world and if Iran or Syria enters in a war with US or Israel, prices of oil will increase.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 25th 2012, 20:05
"The PL, however, could not allow Malta to go through another humiliation in the EU."
Only not-proud-to-be-Maltese JOSEPH MUSCAT felt humiliated!! All proud-to-be-Maltese felt proud that WE small as we are still managed to get what we want!! This shows the level of unpatriotizim of Joseph Muscat and those around him in lejber.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 25th 2012, 19:57
Joseph Muscat is clearly not proud to be Maltese; and lejber wants him to be our PM!!! He is more concerned what his European friends think about him then what we Maltese want in our own country!! Part of the European dream is that every country keeps its heritage!!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 25th 2012, 19:55
“We have to be Europeans in Malta,”
NO JOSEPH MUSCAT!! We have to be MALTESE in EUROPE not the other way round!!
Gorg Sciberras
Nov 25th 2012, 19:52
"The PL, he said, had always managed to negotiate the best deals for Malta doubling, tripling and more what others would have managing to get and that is what it would continue to do."
The government should stall the agreement as long as possible so Muscat and co can get us all this money next year instead.
Angelo Vassallo
Nov 25th 2012, 19:13
@ EDDIE privitera
EDDIE taf x'ghandek tghidilhom u turihom lil qarrejja ta' dan il-blog, L-IRCEVUTA TAL-MEDICINA LI INTI XTRAJT MIT-TURKIJA BIL-PREZZ TA' €3.00 U LI MIN MALTA TINXTARA TMIEN DARBIET IZJED, JIGIFIERI €24.00 BIEX TKUN KREDIBBLI.
Nispera li Norman Vella ta' TVHEMM jaghmel ir-ricerka li wieghed li ser jaghmel fuq din il-medicina u allegazzjoni.
Paul Caruana
Nov 25th 2012, 19:09
Muscat wants to thank Labour for Tonio's approval. If less than 50 socialists voted for Tonio, then their vote made no real difference. Tonio first of all won due to his sublime showing. When it was clear Muscat's support was virtually worthless, Busuttil's and Casa's last minute hard work clinched the result. Did the socialists publish their position so late on purpose?
Salvu Sciberras
Nov 25th 2012, 19:00
"Unlike this government, Labour understood the economy and would not promise to reduce the deficit and then allow it to explode." The deficit is being reduced every year and yet Malta is achieving relatively good grwoth. If Muscat understood the economy how come he told us we should have imitated Spain and Cyprus? GonziPN succeeded thanks to not following Muscat's textbook solutions.
silvio loporto
Nov 25th 2012, 17:52
Vote Joseph and get rid of Gonzi.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 25th 2012, 19:56
Dik opra!!!
mark borg
Nov 25th 2012, 17:46
would be good to see whaty this rita is declaring on her income tax return
Mario Farrugia
Nov 25th 2012, 17:38
"The PL, he said, had always managed to negotiate the best deals for Malta doubling, tripling and more what others would have managing to get...".
Give us facts and numbers please Dr Muscat, or will these also be part of the electoral manifesto ?
John Attard
Nov 25th 2012, 16:47
VOTE Joseph get OLAF
mark borg
Nov 25th 2012, 17:44
Vote Gonzi...get someone like John Dalli
P. Ciantar
Nov 25th 2012, 18:21
@ Mark Borg I though you were going to say vote Joseph get Dalli or vote Joseph get AST
Keith Davis
Nov 25th 2012, 16:09
I wonder, is there possibly no other major important topics to discuss in the national interest?
I condemn any wrongdoing done by whoever, but why does a party leader talk about specific individual wrongdoings when there are so many things and so much more at stake in this country? Is this alienation?!
Frans Aguis
Nov 25th 2012, 16:52
Mr Davis Please note that this is what the TIMESOFMALTA decided to report on...not JUST what was said.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 25th 2012, 16:09
Vote Joseph Muscat and get Alfred Sant!
JC.
George Azzopardi
Nov 25th 2012, 17:18
heheh .. int qe ticcajta hux ... keep it up ta imma ghax b'dil-kampanja ta biza ga qedin f'hofra sew issa!!
Johan zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 17:46
What was wrong with Alfred Sant may be as he was not corrupted
Donna Parnis
Nov 25th 2012, 18:29
@Joseph Cauchi, Vote Gonzi and get more corruption, more bad moves by AG, More RCC ruling the country. more lies. and Much Much More DEBT,,
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 25th 2012, 16:06
Dr Muscat thinks that people are stupid. If the PN budget is good, why not vote in favour? Why do you need to retain the good parts? Don't you have any ideas of your own? How does something unknown (the budget) fit in with the famous roadmap? You either have a roadmap or you don't. You either have economic plans or you don't. It think wit MLP and their past record neither exist.
Alexander Brincat
Nov 25th 2012, 16:27
Have you ever considered another possibility? The one where you have not understood anything about Labour's proposals?
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 25th 2012, 15:59
"Unlike this government, Labour understood the economy"
Labour (aka Wannabe Joey) understands the economy so much that he advocated a Swiss Chocolate in the Med to EU membership, did not want the Euro, wanted the Living Wage and most recently wanted Gonzi to follow the Cypriot economic model.
With economists like Wannabe Joey the Noble price becomes superfluous!
Joe Muscat
Nov 25th 2012, 16:16
With your kind of language and descriptions, it shows what an expert YOU are....Just a small reminder! The Maltese majority still trusts more PL MEPs to represent the country...Oh! And by the way it's NOBEL prize not Noble price.... bravu!
Charles Sammut
Nov 25th 2012, 17:44
ermm...it's NOBEL.....Mr.Nobel will not be impressed with your spelling of his name!
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 25th 2012, 18:53
Sincere apologies for the typo which changes little!
Charles Sammut
Nov 25th 2012, 15:47
The best move would be to bring in the FBI or SCOTLAND YARD. The local Keystone Kops will not be able to discover anything..wink..wink..nudge ..nudge..say no more!
...and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 25th 2012, 15:36
Vote Joseph Muscat and get Alfred Sant!
JC.
Alexander Brincat
Nov 25th 2012, 16:28
Vote Gonzi get Gatt for another five years.
AB.
jm busuttil
Nov 25th 2012, 17:02
@ Alexander Brincat
You might be new to Malta but just to help you out Gatt has already declared several months ago that he will not be contesting the next general elections.
mark borg
Nov 25th 2012, 17:45
@that is just a cover up- yes gatt will still be there ,through his friends like Delia and la bella klikka
Peppi Borg
Nov 25th 2012, 14:44
Another speech by Joseph Muscat which puts minds at rest. Joseph Muscat is really in touch with the people. I agree with the pledge of keeping all positive budget points and build on them. Gonzipn is in panic station once again trying to hide its sins by erasing evidence illegally. Are the police going to intervene? What is the NAO going to investigate?
Anthony Mizzi
Nov 25th 2012, 14:30
If the Police don't investigate , THEY ARE IN ON IT!
Joseph Fenech
Nov 25th 2012, 15:23
I agree... how come the police didnt call for a press conference? We want answers, you are all paid from OUR money!
j brincat
Nov 25th 2012, 14:20
@Tommy Vella
"I am not that adept in computer handling but I think that experts can retrieve deleted documents from the hard-disk"
Not really that easy. What if the hard disk is 'blanked'?
(jb)
(jb)
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 25th 2012, 16:07
There are servers and backups. JB if you are not computer literate, don't comment
Mario Scicluna
Nov 25th 2012, 17:19
@Anthony Scicluna
Today, 16:07
I am more than literate in IT thankyou very much, and backups can sometimes fail 'mysteriously' for no apparent reason on the day! No need to be an IT guru to know how to go around this, can literally overwrite the same backup tape imbaghad nini nini retrieve clusters! On server as well, apparti mailbox cab kaput!
Tahsbu li min ghamilha xi dilettant?
j brincat
Nov 25th 2012, 14:18
"Police should investigate allegations of deleted e-mails - Muscat"
Agreed!
BUT would the Police investigate???
(jb)
Joe Vella
Nov 25th 2012, 14:10
How Ridicules Joseph Muscat can be. Perhaps no body told him that you can delete anything from a computer,but that it remains impeded, and can be retrieved by professionals.
alfred seguna
Nov 25th 2012, 15:16
Then why did they go, to play games?If they are experts in retrieving they should be experts in permanently deleting.May be these experts went to see if it is switched off because of a short circuit since she went abruptly on leave.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 25th 2012, 15:16
Not so, Mr Vella. There are many ways of deleting data in a way that ensure nothing is retrievable. And you don't have to be an expert to do it.
Here is just one example: http://www.upenn.edu/computing/security/privacy/data_clear.php
So who is ridiculous, now?
Eddy Privitera
Nov 25th 2012, 15:21
Joe vella: THis is why Dr. Muscat has asked the police to investigate, unless they too want to help the cover-up !
Mario Scicluna
Nov 25th 2012, 17:27
@Joe Vella
Today, 14:10
And you think that whoever did this is an amateur and leaves traces to be retrieved? I have already explained in the above comment, a relevant clue for Police would be the login credentials(if not root or dummy) or IP to establlish who was it. Unless remotely! But somehow it reminds me of the John Dalli email hacking incident! Kif ma ssemma xejn aktar hux?
John L Galea
Nov 26th 2012, 07:23
@Joe Vella: It's better if you first learn on how to write without spelling and grammatical mistakes, before coming here and boasting your obviously dubious IT skills.
John Zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 14:08
Dr Muscat for the second time had shown his true inters in peoples welfare by promising that the structure of the budget will be withheld in case it does not make through parliament. He also made a point that once the budget is presented (was approved by the EU before) the positives steps will be implemented.Regarding Dr.Schembri The police should investigate immediately.not arrest a wither blower
Tommy Vella
Nov 25th 2012, 14:08
I am not that adept in computer handling but I think that experts can retrieve deleted documents from the hard-disk.
James Attard
Nov 25th 2012, 14:27
There are experts who know how to retrieve deleted documents and likewise, there are other experts who know how to permanently erase data
Joseph Calleja
Nov 25th 2012, 15:36
Yes of course that one could retreive deleted documents but what about changed hardisks. This is what usually happens when elections are at hand and more if the chances of being relected are slim.
Carmen Abela
Nov 25th 2012, 14:07
Is the labour party going to question our police force ability once again? Is oseph Muscat going to do the same as Alfred Sant?
John Zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 14:50
are the police going to investigate ??????
George Azzopardi
Nov 25th 2012, 17:19
what are u afraid of?
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 25th 2012, 14:04
The vote in the EU parliament was a secret one. So, those who are here dlaiming that ALL Socilaists voted against are mischievous! There could have been as many from the right wing who foted against as there were from the left wing who voted for. One wishes that our Parliament uses the same measures when voting on certain important issues. That could show us unprecedented honest voting.
Alfred Falzon
Nov 25th 2012, 14:00
Emails deleted from the office computer may still be retrievable from backups within the Ministry's server and probably at MITA. For transparency's sake the police should be called in to investigate. The fact that OPM has requested the auditor general and not the police or the public service commission to investigate leaves much to be desired.
Louis Muscat
Nov 25th 2012, 13:56
"but the PL delegation nevertheless supported the choice and had it not been for the work of Maltese PL MEPs, Dr Borg’s nomination would not have been approved.
Tell it to the marines. They couldn't even convince their Socialist friends. Wonder what will happen if the PL had to negotiate with the E.U. for the forthcomming E.U. Budget.
John Zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 14:49
@Louis Muscat Tell it to the marines.This phrase should be told to Commissioner Borg for he also said on the media a big thank you to the socialist
Joseph Borg
Nov 25th 2012, 13:36
What a pity, all these allegations we hear!! We should all discuss facts and not issues which we don't even know if they are true!
Joseph Micallef
Nov 25th 2012, 13:20
Dr. Muscat is not known for speaking rubbish so something serious, or perhaps extremely serious in this deletion of emails is brewing. On the other side, GonziPN is tarnished with scandals and corruption so.. vedremo delle belle! GonziPN = total failure
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 25th 2012, 16:07
Agreed for people like you he speaks wisdom!
Joseph Micallef
Nov 25th 2012, 23:56
Am glad you are seeing objectively whom of the two leaders speaks seriously. Unlike GonziPN who spoke rubbish about the super, mega, ultra brazilian company, the tax cuts, the tens of failed promises, that drydocks + shipyards employees, the GO employees (sure.. Go.. gooo away!) etc.., Dr. Muscat was always proved to be on the right side of history.
Christian Sciberras
Nov 25th 2012, 13:19
Keep up the political farce guys.
Either vote for a lazy PN or a backwords PL. Either way, this country's screwed.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Nov 25th 2012, 13:18
Hawn theddida qawwija kontra d-demokrazija, ghar minn dik tal-bidu tat-tmeninijiet. Dik kienet sfaccata u bid-deher, waqt li din sfaccata u bil-mohbi; intejjen taht oqbra mbajda. Ilha tinhema hamsa u ghoxrin sena u issa l-materja li trabbiet f'gisem marid, qed tohrog fid-deher. Is-setghat jinsabu f'konkubinagg, f'horma oxxena, flok ighassu lil xulxin. Hafna mill-ghar dittatorj kienu lemini
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 25th 2012, 13:12
We have to be Europeans in Malta'. Is this what Joseph told us before the EU referendum? Or was he referring to the European Socialists who voted against our Tonio Borg?
The PL had always managed to negotiate the best deals for Malta doubling, tripling and more' Was he referring when Mintoff made us all puppets of Gaddafi and making Malta a military base for his regime?
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 25th 2012, 13:05
How can Malta have Joseph Muscat as our PM when he has no vision whatsoever!
Where was his vision then, when he campaigned against joining the EU, with his Super 1 TV programmes “Made in Brussels” and Svizzera fil-Mediterran?
Isn’t this the same person or is it a look-alike?
JC.
George Azzopardi
Nov 25th 2012, 17:20
widjen torox .. qed tisma Net TV biss siehbi!
saviour frendo
Nov 25th 2012, 13:02
Allegations that government IT officials deleted e-mails which may be crucial to the investigation into Rita Schembri,
SHAME SHAME SHAME ....IF FOUND TO BE TRUE....ONE WAY OUT...
.RESIGN AND HIDE YOURSELF IN SHAME.
Joe Pace Asciak
Nov 25th 2012, 12:55
“The difference between this government and Labour, Dr Muscat said, was responsibility”. I disagree. The difference, instead, is unfortunately very pronounced. Sahha: “Mater Dei kapricc ta’ Gvern Nazzjonalisa”; Edukazzjoni: Self minflok stipendji; Xoghol: tnaqqis u mhux holqien (’96 – ’98). Remember the political mentoring role of Dr. Alfred Sant.
robert pace
Nov 25th 2012, 14:07
Yes we rememberSea Malta Air malta The Dockyard and maybe Enemalta, we remeber how thsi goverment gave us the boot and gave you the crumbs to set you out on the dole!!! We remeber how everything became expensive and hardly affordable. We remeber how this goverment managed to ruin everything including public transport. Go Gonzi Go your days are over...Thank you and dont turn back for heaven sake!!
Matthew Ciantar
Nov 25th 2012, 14:51
actually I quiet agree that Stipends become loans. In other developed countries you pay thousands of dollars/euros to get educated, why so is the maltese student different?
Plus anyways, most students work nowadays, the stipend is pocket money only . . .
George Cutajar
Nov 25th 2012, 12:49
Sure JM but your socilaist friends in the EU were against Tonio Borg getting the post and now you want to take credit. Just go tell it to the marines and stop taking us for rides. As regards Labour's understanding of the economy I suggest one just looks at Labour's understanding of the economy between 1986 and 1988 - twenty two months were enough to run to the ground.
John Zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 13:52
@George Cutajar. Just go tell it to the marines and stop taking us for rides. So said George Cutajar. If he heard the new appointed Commissioner Borg speaks on the media you would not have even dreamt of saying such words
Joe Borg (Senior)
Nov 25th 2012, 14:48
@George Cutajar: vera nies bla sens ta dicenza, jigifieri kulhadd jaf li MEP's tal-PL ghamlu li setaw, tant li ghanke T. Borg w S.Busuttil irrigrazzjaw w fahru l-inzjativa w mbad jigi xi hadd bhalek w qed tghidilna x-ghamlu s-socjalist tal-EU! Dan ovja qed tikkupoja x'qal PBO w GonziPN. Anke li hadd ma vvota mil bqija tal-PS tal-EU, xorta miskom tirrigrazzjaw lil JM ghal dan il*-gest ta ghaqda!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 25th 2012, 15:27
George Cutajar: Had the PL MEPs not helped to get dr. Tonio Borg approved, would Dr. Borg have thanked them publicly TWICE if not more ????
Antonio Pace
Nov 25th 2012, 12:47
Is Muscat serious about his negotiation skills? He didn't even manage to convince his comrades in the European Parliament!
Joe Borg (Senior)
Nov 25th 2012, 14:51
Ma tafx x'qed tghid gbin .. pero ejja nghid li vera ma rnexilhomx ghal-kollox. Dejjem ahjar milli kienu ghamlu l-PN meta kienu marru fl-Ewropa j'xewxu biex ma jghinux lil gvern Malta!!
Joseph Camilleri
Nov 25th 2012, 12:14
Sweet words joseph but I cant forget that you were adamant against Malta joining the EU! when asked you just cheekily answered that you made a mistake. Just imagine if people act like you ? how can we rectify such a mistake !!!!
Lawrence Attard
Nov 25th 2012, 12:52
Jien ivvutajt biex nidhlu fl EU pero xorta se naghti fidducja lill Dr Muscat. Il-PN ghandu bzonn jitnaddaf mill hakma tal ftit li hatfuh.
joseph spiteri
Nov 25th 2012, 14:18
Sorry Joseph,
Have you ever heard a saying of the following from your leader's mouth.
Its not what I say but what I do.
Never take things for granted for the situation might change.
Biblical words from your leader's mouth.
Try to deny, and I will give you a lot to work on..
Joe Borg (Senior)
Nov 25th 2012, 14:52
Sur Camilleri, taf kemm illu jaghmel UTurns Dr.Gonzi f'dan l-ahhar sena ibda mil-500euro fil-gimgha zieda w issa bir-rata tal-icome tax!!!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 25th 2012, 15:30
Joseph Camilleri: La ghandek il-memorja tajba daqshekk, mela zgur tiftakar li l-PN weghduk LM 100 miljun ( €232 miljuni) fis-sena mill-UE, hux ? U tiftakar ukoll li QATT ma qalulek li xi darba dawk l-LM 100 miljun kienu se jibdew jonqsu, hux ???
Please choose the reason of your report below: