Updated at 6.50pm with PN statement

The government today published the terms of reference to be following in the inquiry into alleged political interference in a drugs investigation in Gozo.

The inquiry is into allegations made by Malta Today that a statement given to the Gozo police during a drug-related investigation in summer 2013 was changed following a meeting involving “two senior politicians” and family members of the suspects.

It is being led by lawyer John Vassallo.

His terms of reference are:

* to examine all circumstance that led the suspects to change their statement allegedly following the intervention of a politician;

* to determine whether procedure and the law were followed;

* to determine if there was some form of outside interference; and

* to make recommendations on the basis of the conclusions reached.

Dr Vassallo has been given three weeks in which to conclude the inquiry.

His appointment had followed that of Frank Testa who had asked to be relieved of the duty saying his legal office had a familial link with one of the persons allegedly involved.

The Nationalist Party had hit out at Dr Testa's appointment, citing a tweet he sent two years ago strongly supporting the government.

The PN had also criticised the appointment of Dr Vassallo saying he was a former Labour candidate. 

PN statement

In a statement this evening, the Nationalist Party said the terms of reference came a month late.

It called on the Prime Minister to say who were the two ministers who met late at night at the Gozo Ministry in October 2013 after which meeting the traffickers' statement was changed.

Unless he did this, the Prime Minister would be defending drug traffickers, the PN said.