AG has duty to provide explanation to the public - Simon Busuttil

● New police commissioner from day one

Attorney General Peter Grech had seen the FIAU report on Pilatus Bank and did not do anything about it, and therefore he should provide an explanation to the public for his inaction, Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil said yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at Gardjola Gardens, Senglea, Dr Busuttil referred to the report published on The Malta Independent yesterday morning regarding the FIAU report on Pilatus Bank.

The Malta Independent revealed that evidence which reached this newspaper from a source who worked closely with Pilatus Bank until a few months ago suggests that an FIAU investigation into Pilatus Bank on dubious accounts held for Politically Exposed Persons in Malta and Azerbaijan resulted in a damning report which has been kept secret by the authorities privy to such reports.

MFSA conducted the report together with FIAU, and was then given to the Attorney Attorney General in order to investigate.

Asked whether Attorney General Peter Grech and MFSA chairman should resign in the light of this revelation, Dr Busuttil replied that the situation is of “an extreme gravity.”

Pointing out that the Attorney General is also chairman of the FIAU, he said that the Attorney General and the MFSA chairman Joe Bannister are dutybound to provide an explanation to the public.

“We are in an electoral campaign,” he said, suggesting it was a time where the public needs to know, “so they should immediately give an explanation.”

Not answering straight and plain whether they should resign, referring to MFSA chairman Mr Bannister Dr Busuttil said that following an election, when a new government comes into power, the resignation of the heads of public entities is expected.

When it comes to Attorney General Peter Grech, Dr Busuttil said that unlike public entities, the tenure of Attorney Generals do not come to an end with the conclusion of a legislature, therefore emphasizing the need for an explanation from Dr Grech.

Both Attorney General and Chairman of MFSA were given their roles by a Nationalist Government. “They knew about the FIAU report of ‘such gravity’ and therefore is their duty to give an explanation why they did not take action.”

Dr Busuttil went on to mention the Nationalist Party’s five proposals, firstly pledging to have a new police commissioner “from day one”.

“We need a serious man who can be trusted, who is not involved with the government.”

Secondly, he pledged to create a law in order for the country to have a magistrate, a member of the judiciary who has a “special function to investigate corruption and prosecute on their own initiative.” Dr Busuttil said that he would provide the Magistrate with the resources to go ahead with functions “in an effective and autonomous way,” which is separate from the government.

His third pledge was to have a Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, a position which would be new to the country.

Dr Busuttil’s fourth pledge is to have full time members of parliament to avoid conflict of interest.

“Before it was an exception in Parliament, but Joseph Muscat’s legislature has made it the rule,” he said. “Each MP should only have governmental duties in their focus.”

There will be a new code of ethics for ministers so that ministers and parliamentary secretaries may not have another job, and ministries cannot employ family members who have positions of trust or who is part of a board under the ministry. Dr Busuttil called this “incest which brings about corruption,” “we will remove it once and for all,” he said.

The fifth and final pledge was for a “radical change” in the constitution so that the structure and organs of the country, “work autonomously and to be of service to the people rather than the Government or the Prime Minister.” He said that decision for who to appoint in positions of trust will be decided by a 2/3 vote in Parliament.

In reaction to Keith Schembri not making an appearance in front of the media yesterday, following Magistrate Aaron Bugeja’s order to go ahead with a criminal investigation, Dr Busuttil said that it was “shameful” and “shows that he has something to hide.”

Questioned by the media whether the documents he provided in the Magisterial Inquiry were deviating from the Egrant accusations, Dr Busuttil pointed out that the inquiry has three points of reference, the second of which seeks to find whether the persons in question have accounts with Pilatus Bank.

“I proved that he does, so my document does link to the investigation,” he said.