Beppe Fenech Adami. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Opposition deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami yesterday questioned who “the real Prime Minister” is, insisting Joseph Muscat had lost control over Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia.

“Dr Muscat is not capable of taking any action against Dr Mallia and this begs the question: who is calling the shots?”

Dr Fenech Adami was speaking after Dr Muscat said he would be waiting for the results of a magisterial inquiry before deciding whether to take any action against Dr Mallia for his involvement in an alleged cover-up.

The PN has already called on the Prime Minister to sack Dr Mallia after his version of events on a shooting incident on Wednesday night involving his chauffeur, PC Paul Sheehan, did not tally with what was published in the press.

In an official statement on the night of the incident, the ministry said that PC Sheehan had fired “two warning shots in the air”.

Twelve hours later it emerged that he had in fact fired three shots that hit the car of Scotsman Stephen Smith who allegedly had crashed into the minister’s parked car.

The Prime Minister has said he was “angered” and “disgusted” by the incident, pointing out that a magisterial inquiry was under way.

By ignoring issue he has become an accomplice in a lie

Dr Fenech Adami insisted Dr Muscat was hiding behind the inquiry because he could not wield any political power over Dr Mallia.

“The magisterial inquiry will look into the shooting incident and not into Dr Mallia’s political responsibility. By ignoring this issue, Dr Muscat has become an accomplice in a lie,” Dr Fenech Adami said.

Mr Smith was released yesterday morning after being held in custody since the incident. Contacted by Times of Malta, Mr Smith declined to comment.

Questions sent to the police on whether Mr Smith would be facing criminal proceedings remained unanswered at the time of writing. Dr Mallia said in a press briefing on Thursday that Mr Smith had been well over the alcohol limit when the incident happened.

Times of Malta asked the police to confirm whether a breathalyser test had been carried out on Mr Smith and their reply was that a magisterial inquiry was under way and it was “not prudent” to comment.

Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister on whether any other ministers had armed drivers also remained unanswered at the time of writing.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil would not say whether the PN planned to take any action in Parliament about the matter.

Asked what would the PN be doing next and whether it planned moving a motion of no confidence in Dr Mallia, Dr Busuttil said: “The next step is for the Prime Minister to be a Prime Minister.

“For us this is not a closed chapter, far from it.”