The secrecy surrounding an inquiry into the former Police Commissioner’s decision to drop charges against a man who allegedly assaulted four police officers is eating away at the force’s credibility, the Opposition charged yesterday.

“The police’s credibility as upholders of the law is at stake here. Transparency and accountability can’t have an expiry date. This report needs to be published,” Opposition spokesman for home affairs Jason Azzopardi said yesterday.

He was addressing a press conference outside the Police Headquarters in Floriana.

The case at the centre of the inquiry involved a man from Marsaxlokk who allegedly assaulted a police sergeant and three constables in June 2013.

The sergeant had issued charges which were reportedly put on hold and withdrawn last December.

The inquiry was launched last June after it emerged that Peter Paul Zammit, who was still chief of police at the time, had been involved in the decision to drop the charges.

An independent board was set up and a report was concluded by July.

Dr Azzopardi yesterday said Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia was yet to read the inquiry report and it was unclear whether its findings would be made public.

Dr Mallia told Times of Malta on Wednesday that he had not yet read the inquiry report since he was on holiday, but would do so immediately. Asked if he would be publishing its findings, he said it was too early to say.

“He is pulling wool over our eyes if he can’t even be bothered reading a few pages, two months after the report was handed to him,” Dr Azzopardi said, adding that the government had pledged to publish the report once it was concluded.

Asked yesterday why the government was not sure whether it would be publishing the report after saying that it would, a spokeswoman for the ministry said Dr Mallia was currently overseas attending a conference, and could not be reached.

The publication of the report was not the only bone of contention.

Dr Azzopardi also raised concerns over the former police commissioner’s resignation.

Mr Zammit had stepped down and was given a new role as head of security for upcoming national events.

Dr Azzopardi said this posed questions as to the motives behind Mr Zammit’s resignation.

“You can’t run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. If Mr Zammit’s resignation was the result of his actions in that case, he is being rewarded. If it wasn’t, then that means everything goes for this government,” Mr Azzopardi said.