Owen Bonnici. Photo: Matthew MirabelliJustice Minister Owen Bonnici was evasive yesterday when repeatedly asked whether former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit was trustworthy.
Asked seven times by the Times of Malta whether he thought Mr Zammit had the integrity to head a local warden enforcement agency in view of the Mallia inquiry, Dr Bonnici was coy.
“I think he has the experience and the qualifications to be an agent of change.... He has the right ingredients,” he said when asked specifically whether he trusted him to fill the position of trust.
Asked again whether trustworthiness was one of the “ingredients” Mr Zammit possessed, Dr Bonnici replied he trusted the integrity of a report carried out on Mr Zammit’s conduct.
Judge Michael Mallia concluded in an inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister that Mr Zammit had broken police regulations by carrying out undeclared business dealings while serving in the corps.
The inquiry had found that Mr Zammit, together with his sons, a former inspector and a serving inspector, engaged in business dealings with the Gaffarena family, which, among other things, could have “compromised” a murder investigation.
Mr Zammit had been forced to resign as acting police commissioner last December in the wake of an inquiry into a shooting incident involving former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia’s driver. He then returned to his former post of deputy police commissioner and stepped down in May when he was given the law enforcement agency appointment.
Despite this, Dr Bonnici rested on the recommendations put forward in the Mallia inquiry, which said Mr Zammit should have been given a warning were he was still in the police force.
“I do have total trust in Judge Mallia and his recommendations, which I did not hesitate to follow to the letter,” Dr Bonnici said, adding that he had even sent copies of the report to the Police Commissioner and to the Attorney General to decide whether further action was warranted.
He said he would have not hesitated to remove Mr Zammit from his position of trust had the judge so recommend.
The Opposition has repeatedly accused the government of “inaction” following the inquiry report, questioning what leverage the Zammit family had on the government.
Asked for his reaction to criticism that the government was being held “hostage” by Mr Zammit, Dr Bonnici replied: “No, this is certainly not the case. We acted without hesitation when we ordered the inquiry. And, again, when we issued the formal warning.”
ivan.martin@timesofmalta.com