Speaker Anġlu Farrugia insisted the investigation into alleged fuel consumption irregularities involving Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s official car was not politically motivated.

“Of course not,” Dr Farrugia said curtly when asked whether there was or could have been ulterior motives behind the investigation.

A magisterial inquiry exonerated Dr Busuttil’s driver from all claims of misusing fuel allocated to the Opposition leader.

The inquiry was launched last December after the police received a note from Dr Farrugia about alleged discrepancies flagged by Parliament’s accounts section.

Sources said accounts clerks had spotted discrepancies between the €70 weekly fuel bill and the mileage.

Dr Busuttil had noted that his car’s consumption was comparable to that of three other vehicles of the same make and engine size. He insisted he had never exceeded the fuel allowance given to him by Parliament, equivalent to 250 litres a month.

In his reaction to the conclusion of the inquiry, Dr Farrugia said the investigation started after it was discovered that, for 30 months, bar on three occasions, all the fuel allowance allotted to the Opposition leader had been taken up. Wrong readings of the odometer by the driver also contributed to the suspicions, he said, with the Speaker’s office seeking the intervention of the police.

Dr Farrugia pointed out he had never asked for a magisterial inquiry, which had been initiated at the request of the police.

Welcoming the news, Dr Busuttil told journalists on Monday he expected Dr Farrugia to ensure that whoever filed the “baseless report… shoulders the responsibility”.

But, when asked, Dr Farrugia ruled this out: “This probe began because people were doing their job and flagged something that impacted good governance. I thank my staff for flagging issues and I will not take action against anyone who did his job. On the contrary, I praise these initiatives.”

He pointed out that at no time did he seek the suspension of Dr Busuttil’s driver and that even though Dr Busuttil insisted his driver be suspended pending the investigation, he still continued to receive his salary. “It is Dr Busuttil who should apologise to his driver,” Dr Farrugia said.

Anthony Tabone, who served as Dr Busuttil’s driver for several years, has categorically denied any wrongdoing.