The Prime Minister should take immediate steps to remove Gozo Minister Anton Refalo, following the news that the police are investigating allegations concerning the ministry, the Opposition said yesterday.

Nationalist Party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said Dr Refalo’s position was no longer tenable since he led a ministry under investigation and the possibility of tampering with evidence was a concern.

Dr Fenech Adami referred to a story in Times of Malta that said the police were investigating new claims of private works using public funds by the Gozo Ministry over the past two years.

Yet the government immediately countered that the minister himself was not under investigation. The police were given access to all files as soon as investigations into the case involving the ministry started.

Dr Fenech Adami appealed to the police to intensify their investigations and urged those with information to use the Whistleblower Act

The government also said Dr Fenech Adami had made “another mistake”.

Three days ago, he accused the Gozo Minister of having illegally built a road for farmers, when the road was actually laid by the Nadur local council when headed by Chris Said.

Anton Refalo

Senior police sources have said fresh allegations made in the past weeks were being investigated as part of the broader “works for votes” scam which, last week, saw Anthony Debono, the husband of former PN Gozo minister Giovanna, being arraigned on corruption charges.

The works done for constituents with public funds were uncovered after a whistleblower blew the lid on the racket back in March.

The new investigation covers works allegedly done on a concrete platform at a Marsalforn restaurant as well as works in private properties in Għasri, Xagħra, Għajnsielem, Munxar and Victoria allegedly carried out more recently.

Dr Fenech Adami appealed to the police to intensify their investigations on the reported abuses and urged all those who may have any information to utilise the Whistleblower Act and take their information to the police.

Police Commissioner Michael Cassar told Times of Malta there was “no cut-off period” for the Gozo works investigation and all claims related to the matter would be treated the same way, irrespective of when they occurred.