The Attorney General yesterday recanted his request to freeze the assets of the 75-year-old ‘whistleblower’ in the Rita Schembri case.

Magistrate Anthony Vella on Thursday expressed surprise at the request and said the accused, Joe Borg, was not charged with money laundering but defamation.

Mr Borg allegedly sent a defamatory e-mail attempting to blackmail Ms Schembri, who is the head of the government’s internal audit bureau.

Ms Schembri is also at the centre of an investigation she requested herself over allegations of breaching ethics. The case continues.

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