The Nationalist Party has called on the police to investigate the “collusion” between Castille and the Gaffarena family over the shady deal on the Old Mint Street property.

Addressing a press conference in front of Police headquarters, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said it was unacceptable in a democratic society for the police force to receive orders from the Prime Minister on how to conduct investigations.

He was referring to last week’s police raid at the Land Department on the Prime Minister’s orders.

"The police cannot conduct its investigations on the orders of the Prime Minster, especially in this case where the OPM is directly involved...

“Now everyone knows that the Gaffarena scandal was conceived in the Office of the Prime Minister. So the police should also investigate the OPM and not treat Land Department employees as if they were all corrupt.”

Dr Fenech Adami also pointed out the conflict of interest of the police force in this case as when the whole scandal surfaced, the Economic Crimes Unit was controlled by two inspectors involved in business with Mr Gaffarena.

“This shows that in less than three years, the Gaffarenas have managed to control the Lands Department, the police force and Castille.”

Dr Fenech Adami said this latest scandal exposed Joseph Muscat as leading a government that was “immersed in institutional corruption”.

UNLIKE WHAT USED TO HAPPEN UNDER THE PN, RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN SHOULDERED - PL

In a reaction, the Labour Party noted that as everyone knew, responsibility had been shouldered in this case contrary to what used to happen under Nationalist governments.

It was also ironic that the press conference was addressed by Dr Fenech Adami who was Mr Gaffarena's lawyer and whose wife was Mr Gaffarena's notary.

Dr Fenech Adami had shared several meals with Mr Gaffarena, as the latter himself had stated, the PL said.

It said that there was no better person than Dr Fenech Adami to speak about relations with Mr Gaffarena.