Police Commissioner John Rizzo yesterday vehemently denied discussing investigations with anyone but the Attorney General.

He made the denial as lawyer Toni Abela, representing MaltaToday, remarked that the Police Commissioner discussed cases with ministers.

“Never, never and never,” Mr Rizzo responded, sounding irritated.

He was testifying in a libel case instituted by the Prime Minister’s head of secretariat, Edgar Galea Curmi, against MaltaToday and against the Labour Party’s television station One.

The case centres on a drugs bust in which Chris Engerer, the father of former Nationalist Party Sliema councillor Cyrus, was allegedly found in possession of a small amount of cannabis. The bust took place shortly after Mr Engerer’s son defected from the PN.

Mr Engerer and his father alleged that they were victims of political action by the police.

Mr Rizzo said he had first become aware of the allegations when Superintendent Neil Harrison, handling the drugs bust, told him what Mr Engerer was claiming.

He immediately informed former Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

At one point he received a phone call from Mr Galea Curmi, who reiterated the same allegations he had heard from Supt. Harrison.

In the phone call, he realised that Cyrus Engerer was standing next to Mr Galea Curmi.

He said that, contrary to what was reported, Mr Galea Curmi had made a suggestion which he did not adopt. He was never asked by Mr Galea Curmi to do something he could not do, he added.

The case continues.