The Opposition leader should apologise to the public and the country’s institutions and come clean about the Gozo works-for-votes scandal, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said.

Dr Bonnici criticised Simon Busuttil for attacking the institution of the Whistleblower Act by filing a judicial protest against contractor Joseph Cauchi who was granted protection and testified earlier this week in the case against Anthony Debono, the husband of former Gozo minister Giovanna Debono.

Dr Bonnici said Dr Busuttil did not give the full version of events and asked whether there was any record of a meeting held between Mr Cauchi and Dr Busuttil two years ago. He also asked who was present for the meeting.

“He wants us to believe that the whistleblower just went to tell him that he was owed money by the government,” Dr Bonnici said.

The truth was that Dr Busuttil was in a “state of panic,” he added.

He referred to Dr Busuttil’s statement accusing Mr Cauchi of “shady dealings” saying this was a clear admission.