Former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit is insisting he did nothing wrong despite being singled out by an inquiry board for gross negligence.

Mr Zammit yesterday defended his actions, 48 hours after being sacked by the Prime Minister over the findings of an inquiry into a shooting incident involving the driver of former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia.

Dr Mallia last night also broke his silence by protesting his innocence and insisting that the inquiry into allegations of a cover-up absolved him from any “participation” in such an attempt.

Dr Mallia wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, who tabled it in Parliament last night (see page 5), pledging his loyalty to the government and the Labour movement. He said he was unable to attend the parliamentary sitting as he was medically indisposed but pointed out he would continue to serve in Parliament.

Mr Zammit too, in his first comments after the inquiry conclusions were made public, told Times of Malta he would continue to serve in the police force as long as he was allowed to do so. He was retained in his previous role of deputy police commissioner.

“I obey any order given to me but I don’t feel it was just because I did nothing wrong,” Mr Zammit said about his removal from acting police commissioner.

The inquiry found that Mr Zammit’s actions on the night of the incident lacked professionalism and this strengthened the allegations of a cover-up. The board said this was not done with bad intent.

‘I will continue to serve in the police force’

However, Mr Zammit was blamed for the inaccuracies in the official statement released by the Home Affairs Ministry on the night, which said warning shots had been fired in the air when facts indicated otherwise.

Witnesses who testified in the inquiry confirmed it was Mr Zammit who first used the words ‘warning shots’.

The board chided Mr Zammit for doing nothing to correct the statement even after seeing the bullet holes in the victim’s car later that night.

“The fact that one would turn a blind eye to what is manifestly existing in front of him or to what is being said to him, indicates gross negligence, which cannot be excused,” the board concluded.

However, Mr Zammit struck a defensive note yesterday, insisting he did every-thing possible to ensure things were done properly.

“What did I do wrong? I ordered an inquiry, I sent officers on the scene of the crime, I told them to call in the magistrate and to touch nothing.”

Asked about the warning shots controversy that prompted the cover-up allegation, Mr Zammit said the problem was that, up to a certain point, the incident was interpreted as a hit-and-run “with shots”.

“When it was confirmed that the car had been hit, the investigation changed course,” he insisted.

The driver was charged with attempted murder almost a week after the incident.

Mr Zammit did not want to entertain the question as to whether the Prime Minister was mistaken in removing him from office. “He took his decisions. I was there to help and that is what I will continue doing.”

Asked whether he would leave the police force after the show of mistrust in his conduct, Mr Zammit insisted that, for 39 years, he had always given society a service to the best of his abilities. “I have always loved the police corps. I am at peace with the Lord (‘Jien seren m’Alla daqs il-Bambin’),” he said.

Mr Zammit said he met new Police Commissioner Michael Cassar for the first time yesterday.