Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has branded a magisterial inquiry into his official car’s fuel consumption as an attempt to smear his name.

The inquiry was launched after the police received a note from Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia about alleged discrepancies flagged up by Parliament’s accounts section.

“I find it very strange how we discovered about the inquiry a day after I presented a policy document on good governance and a week after I presented a motion contesting a ruling by the Speaker. This is what you call coincidence,” he said.

Dr Busuttil had vehemently contested the Speaker’s ruling over disparaging language exchanged by MPs Joe Debono Grech and Marlene Farrugia in Parliament.

Whatever the facts, I want the full truth

The Opposition leader’s driver, Anthony Tabone, who has worked with him in that position for several years, has “categorically denied” any wrongdoing.

However, on Dr Busuttil’s own request he has been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.

“Whatever the facts, I want the full truth,” Dr Busuttil told the magistrate in an application he filed in court.

News of the inquiry was made public by the PN leader himself, who declared his full cooperation with the magistrate conducting the inquiry.

Dr Busuttil’s Opel Insignia is provided by Parliament, which also covers its fuel and maintenance costs. Parliament also pays the driver’s salary who is, however, chosen by the Opposition leader on a position-of-trust basis.

Fuel is taken at the fuel station that has an agreement with Parliament and which then invoices Parliament directly.

Alleged discrepancies between fuel bill and mileage

Sources said accounts clerks saw discrepancies between the €70-a-week fuel bill and the car’s mileage. But Dr Busuttil said his car’s consumption was comparable to that of three other cars of the same make and engine size.

He said he never exceeded the fuel allowance given to him by Parliament, equivalent to 250 litres a month.

Dr Busuttil told the media that the clerk of the House had been corresponding with his office over the car’s consumption for the past couple of weeks and all questions asked were answered in detail, including with photographs of the car’s mileage.

The Opposition leader’s car is one of three financed by Parliament, with the Speaker’s being one of them. When asked, he said comparison of fuel consumption could not be made with the Speaker’s car because he had far more engagements than the Speaker.

When contacted, the Speaker said he had no knowledge about details of the discrepancies.

When asked by One TV whether his fuel allowance was being used by Net TV cars, Dr Busuttil vehemently denied the suggestion, calling it libellous.

In a statement, the PN said that Dr Busuttil’s actions contrasted with those of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who had failed to take action against parliamentary secretary Ian Borg in view of an investigation by the Commission Against Corruption.

The Labour Party said Dr Busuttil should shoulder political responsibility over the matter.