The Nationalist Party has called on the Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner to shoulder political responsibility for abuse of power after a court ruled yesterday that there was no reasonable suspicion that Norman Vella had committed a crime.

Mr Vella , an immigration officer and former broadcaster, was held at his place of work (the airport) and interrogated by the police on Sunday after it was alleged that he photographed Kurt Farrugia, head of government communications and Ramona Attard, communications coordinator of the Home Affairs Ministry in a restricted area of the airport. His phone and tablet were seized.

The PN noted that the commissioner, politically appointed by the prime minister, had personally defended the police actions in court. 

The evidence in court showed how the police had had no case and their decision to seize Mr Vella's ipad and iphone were an attempt at intimidation and abuse of power, the PN said.

It added that the commissioner had also abused his powers in the case of Inspector Elton Taliana. His position as police commissioner was untenable, the PN said.