Former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit was yellow-carded by the Justice Minister but the government yesterday shunned the Opposition’s call for his removal.

Owen Bonnici said he warned Mr Zammit “not to repeat” the behaviour criticised in an inquiry by former judge Michael Mallia that exposed dangerous liaisons between police officers and the business world.

The Nationalist Party called for Mr Zammit’s immediate removal as acting prisons director and CEO of a newly-created wardens’ agency following the damning report.

But yesterday was also characterised by an eerie silence as Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela and Police Commissioner Michael Cassar chose not to comment on the inquiry that cast a shadow on the police corps.

When asked whether the minister was concerned by the findings, Mr Abela’s spokeswoman would only say the findings were referred to the Attorney General and to the Police Commissioner for further investigation. Mr Cassar’s reply was equally dry, insisting the police did not comment on ongoing investigations.

And, in a one-sentence statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said it would press on with reforms without addressing concerns over the police force’s tainted image.

The inquiry found that Mr Zammit and his two sons, former inspector Daniel Zammit and inspector Roderick Zammit, held companies with “dubious” business people.

Daniel Zammit was also accused of acting unethically in a murder investigation. The judge recommended the Attorney General look into the possibility the former police officer traded in influence, a criminal act. But Daniel Zammit’s lawyers yesterday said the inquiry contained “factual mistakes”.

Meanwhile, an internal police directive issued by Mr Cassar has ordered all police officers to submit written declarations of any business interests. The order was issued in the wake of the inquiry.