Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has admitted being caught by surprise with revelations that two former Nationalist ministers held undeclared overseas accounts.

“I never expected this, even because during my time, ministers’ declarations were vetted by the Cabinet secretary and any questions would have been flagged,” he told Times of Malta.

Michael Falzon and Ninu Zammit have been named on a list of HSBC clients who held secret accounts with the bank’s Swiss branch in Geneva.

Mr Zammit had served as minister under Dr Gonzi’s premiership between 2004 and 2008.

Mr Falzon was no longer an MP by then but had contested the 2004 MEP election on behalf of the Nationalist Party. Dr Gonzi said his attention was never drawn to anything untoward by the Cabinet secretary.

Mr Zammit (like Mr Falzon earlier) failed to declare the account in his ministerial declaration. He admitted regularising his tax position only last year. Mr Falzon also said he has regularised his position.

Asked whether his trust was breached, Dr Gonzi said it would have if an illegality was perpetrated.

“I do not know all the facts but if there was an illegality it would have been a massive betrayal of the electorate’s and my trust,” he said.

Endorsing the position adopted by PN leader Simon Busuttil, Dr Gonzi said anybody in politics “had a duty to explain matters, especially the source of the funds” to be politically accountable.

Former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami preferred not to comment. More on the Swiss accounts in Times of Malta andthe e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.