The eventual publication of the findings of an inquiry into the former police commissioner’s conduct will end speculation that it is purposely being withheld, according to the Home Affairs Minister.
The inquiry, finalised five months ago, was ordered to look into allegations that ex-police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit had decided to drop the charges against a man who allegedly assaulted four officers in Żabbar.
Despite having pledged to publish the findings, Manuel Mallia has yet to make the document public.
The delay prompted the Opposition to present a parliamentary motion calling on the government to stop “hiding” the results of the inquiry, along with another that looked into a botched police investigation into a Birkirkara hold-up.
Asked whether the reports were being withheld, Dr Mallia insisted there was no reason to suspect the government was concealing the results of any inquiry.
“The impression that has been given, that these reports have not been published for any particular reason, is completely unfounded.
There’s no reason to suspect results being concealed
“Once you see what these reports have concluded you will realise there was no particular reason why they have not [yet] been published,” he said.
Asked to elaborate, the minister replied: “You will see when you read the report.”
Times of Malta asked why the reports had not yet been published and whether these were still being analysed. Dr Mallia, however, only said there was “absolutely no hold-up”.
Pressed on the issue, he said the reports would be published when the time was “right”.
But when would it be the right time to publish the reports?
Dr Mallia replied: “Nothing in particular.”
He then added there was nothing to worry about and that the reports would be published in the coming weeks.
Dr Mallia said last month he could not understand why such a fuss was being made over the publication of the reports, as this was not the first time it took a while to consider inquiry findings.
As an example, he referred to an inquiry under the last Nationalist administration over an irregular immigrant who was found dead, pointing out that its conclusions have never been published.