Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo said this evening that he was the target of blackmail.

Speaking in Parliament, without giving details, he said that messengers had been sent to him giving messages to do certain things. These messengers had been sent by the same person.

He said that he would never succumb to blackmail.

He also revealed that he had passed on to the Police an email where it was said that a professional, not working for the government, had knowledge of a VAT investigation on a particular person.

Mr Arrigo also accused the media of being a vehicle for publishing information about persons involved in cases of blackmail. There were newspapers which had hidden agendas. Everyone, he said, would have to account for his actions.

He said that jealousy had to be curtailed.. He declared that he had confidence in the Police who had certain facts and emails in their hands.

Last month the prime minister denied that Mr Arrigo - formerly Mayor of Sliema and president of Sliema Football Club - is part of an investigation over football bribery.

“Robert Arrigo went to the Police Commissioner himself with an e-mail containing allegations, which he felt should be investigated," Dr Gonzi had said. "So he is not being investigated but he went to the police on his own volition,” Dr Gonzi had said, praising Mr Arrigo’s behaviour.

Mr Arrigo made the same comments when contacted. “I’m not involved in any investigation. I’m not being investigated. I only passed on some e-mails I received to the Police Commissioner,” he said.