The Nationalist Party has accused the Police Commissioner of “humiliating the force” by checking the phones of a government official.
Spokesman Jason Azzopardi said Peter Paul Zammit was “incompetent” for investigating an alleged crime by simply checking call logs, which could in fact have been altered or deleted.
He was referring to comments Mr Zammit gave to Times of Malta in which he said he had checked the phone of the Home Affairs Ministry’s chief of staff in an attempt to establish the truth behind an allegation that calls were exchanged between the ministry and a well-known criminal.
“Mr Zammit had claimed he was investigating allegations of corruption of witnesses and fabrication of false evidence against [Police] Inspector Elton Taliana, so why was he examining [Silvio] Scerri’s mobile phone and not Inspector Taliana’s,” Dr Azzopardi asked.
“Is this how a serious investigation is carried out by somebody who should be serious, impartial and transparent?” he added.
Is this how a serious investigation is carried out by somebody who should be serious, impartial and transparent?
Dr Azzopardi said that, contrary to what had been claimed, the Police Commissioner had not requested any call logs or other information from any service provider related to the controversy over a man who was wrongly accused of a hold-up.
The issue goes back to last August when the PN claimed that Mr Scerri had used Joseph Attard, a criminal known as Iż-Żambi, as a go-between to speak to Darryl Luke Borg before the latter appeared before the Police Board. Mr Borg had been wrongly accused of a hold-up and the board was looking into the case.
Mr Zammit later declared on TV that “call logs” confirmed Mr Scerri had not made contact with Mr Attard but it had been Mr Borg who had contacted Mr Scerri.
Dr Azzopardi asked why Mr Zammit had not checked the mobile phone belonging to Inspector Taliana who the Police Commissioner claimed had approached Mr Borg prior to appearing before the Police Board.
He said it was clear that the Police Commissioner was trying to cover up whatever Mr Scerri did.
Questions sent to Mr Zammit yesterday asking why he did not feel the need to check Inspector Taliana’s mobile phone once he had accused him of approaching a witness, remained unanswered at the time of going writing.
Mr Zammit was also asked whether the police would appeal the decision by Magistrate Marseann Farrugia who, on Wednesday, ruled that the police had taken the mobile phone and tablet of former TV presenter Norman Vella without having a reasonable suspicion that he had committed a crime.
Mr Vella was questioned by the police for allegedly taking photos of two government officials at the airport while on their way to London.