Updated - Adds comments at press conference, statement by Labour leader

The Prime Minister has told outgoing Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said that he hoped an early conclusion of court proceedings he is facing would allow him to reappoint him to the office which he had held 'with so much energy and dedication'.

Dr Said resigned this afternoon after an appeals court ordered the police to institute proceedings for perjury.

In his resignation letter to Dr Gonzi, Dr Said said the claims being made against him were completely without basis and aimed only at harming him for doing his duty as a lawyer. They had nothing to do with his role as parliamentary secretary.

Nonetheless, he said, the accusation he was facing was a serious one and he was therefore resigning so as not to be a burden on the government and so that he could be free to fight the claim.

Dr Said explained that the appeals court had ordered the police to institute proceedings against him after a challenge filed by Anthony Xuereb against the Commissioner of Police on the basis of evidence he had given in a court case between Mr Xuereb and his former partner Helen Milligan in April 2009. He had given evidence in that hearing since, in January 2007, he had been legal counsel to Ms Milligan in her child custody court case against Mr Xuereb.

Dr Said pointed out that after Mr Xuereb's initial complaint, the police had concluded that there were no grounds for them to proceed against him (Dr Said). The Attorney General took a similar position.

Mr Xuereb subsequently went to court but the Magistrates' Court on August 20, 2010 also turned down Mr Xuereb's request for police action.

Mr Xuereb appealed and his appeal was upheld today.

"I am convinced that I did not break the law and will therefore contest the case in the strongest possible manner to prove my innocence," Dr Said said.

STATEMENT BY LABOUR LEADER

Labour leader Joseph Muscat said in a statement that although it was not his intention to go into the merits of the case, he was concerned at the Prime Minister’s statement in his letter to Dr Said wherehe hoped an early conclusion of court proceedings would allow him to reappoint Dr Said to the office which he had held 'with so much energy and dedication'.

Such a public declaration amounted to pressure on the judiciary, r Muscat said. The judiciary, he insisted, should be allowed to work independently and serenely.

The Prime Minister, Dr Muscat said, was risking prejudicing such a sensitive case.

In a reply, the PN condemned Dr Muscat for his statement, saying it confirmed that he was not serious by opting to be partisan and make a political case out of the issue.

The Labour Party, it said, had already used this tactic in the past, including with Dr Muscat's involvement when he was a Super 1 employee.

PN STATEMENT

The Nationalist Party in a statement expressed its solidarity with Dr Said. His decision, it said, was based on the highest ethical standards based on political correctness and seriousness.

The values of truth, integrity and correctness were values which made politics a noble service to the people, and these were the values which distinguished the PN, the party said.

Support was also expressed by the PN's parliamentary group in another statement.

EMOTIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE

Dr Said was deeply emotional at a press conference held this afternoon where he again insisted that he did not break the law.

This, he said, was a minor case, although he admitted that the charge was serious.

Asked if this case meant the end of his political career, Dr Said said that depended on the outcome of the case and the Prime Minister's subsequent decisions.

"Political correctness is a more important value, even if it means the end of a political career," Dr Said said. He added that he would take his own decisions after the case was decided, but his lawyers would file an application for the case to be heard with urgency.

Asked who had represented Mr Xuereb, Dr Said said he was represented by Dr Justyne Caruana.

Asked if the fact that Dr Caruana was a Labour MP had had a bearing in the actions taken by Mr Xuereb, Dr Said said he would let the people decide.

Amid tears, Dr Said confirmed that he had not yet discussed his mother that he was stepping down, although he had spoken with his family.

The press conference was held at the Osborne Hotel and later Dr Said drove off in a private car.

GRTU STATEMENT

In a statement this evening, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said Chris Said was one of the most valuable and hard working members of government and the GRTU and himself personally had an excellent relationship with him.

"There are too many important issues affecting micro and small enterprises that are currently being managed efficiently by Chris Said.

"While I admire Chris Said's courage and conviction, I do hope that this issue is handled with utmost urgency and sincerely augur that Chris Said is back in office at the soonest."