Competitiveness Minister Manuel Mallia yesterday denied political involvement in a Gozo drugs case in which two senior politicians allegedly brokered a change in a police statement.

Malta Today reported last month that two unnamed politicians had met with the parents of two men who were allegedly involved in drug dealing.

Following this late-night meeting in 2013, a woman reportedly asked the police to change a police statement in which she implicated the two men.

Speaking to the Times of Malta, Dr Mallia, who was home affairs minister at the time, said the only meetings he ever held in Gozo were for official purposes.

Dr Mallia said he had never in his political life asked somebody to change a police statement, nor had he ever gone to Gozo to discuss a change in a police statement.

The government announced an inquiry into the allegations two weeks ago. Dr Mallia said he had not been called to testify but would have no problem doing so.

Gozo Minister Anton Refalo also denied any involvement in the case last week. He said he knew nothing about it and was not one of the two senior politicians reportedly involved.

The government has appointed lawyer John Vassallo to lead the inquiry after another lawyer, Frank Testa, stepped down. He  relinquished the role soon after saying a member of his legal office had a familial link with one of the persons allegedly involved.

The PN also criticised the appointment of Dr Vassallo, who is a former Labour candidate.

It said that the government was clearly against holding an independent inquiry.

The PN pointed out that only a few days ago, Dr Vassallo was also appointed deputy chairman of the Lands Authority.

jacob.borg@timesofmalta.com