The government may be protecting former acting commissioner Ray Zammit because of what he knows about the Prime Minister, according to Simon Busuttil.
Speaking on Radio 101 yesterday, the Opposition leader referred to an inquiry by retired judge Michael Mallia that has cast a shadow over Mr Zammit and his two sons.
In it, the judge says Mr Zammit’s son, former police inspector Daniel Zammit, did not behave ethically and in line with the procedures regulating his position during the murder investigation of Neville Baldacchino in 2008.
The report exposed “dangerous” business links between Zammit family members and the Gaffarena business family, as well as nightclub owner Ugo Chetcuti.
Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela has declined to comment on the inquiry’s findings, while Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said he warned Mr Zammit “not to repeat” the behaviour criticised in the inquiry.
Dr Busuttil yesterday said that both the Zammit and Gaffarena families enjoyed government protection from the top and this showed links between power, money and criminality.
“These are dangerous links and all this is happening under the Prime Minister’s nose. Since he is not taking action, he must have given his blessing,” Dr Busuttil said.
These are dangerous links and all this is happening under the Prime Minister’s nose. He must have given his blessing
He noted there was silence following the inquiry, while Mr Zammit still occupies the position of acting prisons director and head of the Wardens Agency. He is also still receiving a police commissioner’s salary and has a driver.
“What does [Mr] Zammit know about the Prime Minister and the government, for the Prime Minister to continue protecting him in this way?” Dr Busuttil asked.
The inquiry was a slap in the face for the police force, and people expected the force to protect them, not criminals, he said. He also spoke about the need to change the way politics is done in Malta, with a big clean-up so politicians could regain the people’s trust.
“This is the most corrupt government we have had since Mintoff and Lorry Sant,” he said. “Some believe that we should fight the government by being corrupt ourselves as well. I do not agree.
“We should be honest and use people’s money wisely, rather than pay for corruption with it… Money spent on corruption could be used on medicine and roads, for example,” Dr Busuttil said.
Reacting to his comments, the government said the Opposition leader chose to speak negatively about the inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister.
Rather than throw around baseless insinuations, one would have expected him to speak up about how the cases being investigated took place under his own party’s watch.
He should also say what he thought of Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Beppe Fenech Adami, who had been responsible for the police force when these cases took place.