Updated - adds comments on video - Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has again defended the appointment of former acting police commissioner Raymond Zammit as head of a local enforcement agency despite his two sons having been questioned by the police.
Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry continues to refuse to divulge any information about the financial package given to Mr Zammit in his new post. Questions sent to the ministry and followed up with various reminders remain unanswered.
Asked yesterday for a reaction on news reports that Mr Zammit’s two sons – a former and a serving police inspector – were questioned as part of an ongoing “broad” investigation, Dr Bonnici said he had taken the necessary disciplinary action as recommended by an inquiry by retired judge Michael Mallia.
When and if [Ray Zammit is called for interrogation],we will see what measures are to be taken
“Nothing has changed since the Mallia report. I have done what the inquiry suggested,” he said. Pressed on whether there should be a rethink since Mr Zammit’s sons have now been interrogated by the police as part of the investigation, Dr Bonnici said he saw no reason why that should happen.
“As far as I know, Mr Zammit was not arrested or interrogated,” the minister said.
Dr Bonnici denied suggestions that the government had any obligations towards Mr Zammit forcing it to defend him against all odds.
Mr Zammit had been removed from the helm of the police force last December after an inquiry on a shooting incident involving the driver of former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia had found he had been “grossly unprofessional” in carrying out his duties.
Soon after he resigned from the police force, Mr Zammit was appointed by the government to head a new State agency responsible for a reform in the local enforcement system.
The inquiry found that Mr Zammit and his sons had been involved in business relations against police rules. It was established that Daniel Zammit, the former police inspector, had acted “unethically” in a 2008 murder investigation involving a relative of the Gaffarenas with whom the Zammits had business relations.