Political responsibility has to be shouldered - Busuttil

Speaking during adjournment time yesterday evening, Busuttil said it was now more important than ever before that the political responsibility is shouldered, meaning that Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri and even Joseph Muscat had to resign.

He said Karl Cini’s email had revealed that Mizzi and Schembri were to receive some $150,000 a month from 17 Black. It was also revealed that $2 million had been paid into the company by the agent of the LNG tanker and a company belonging to an Azeri national.

The revelations left no room for doubt, Busuttil said.

Busuttil said the court had confirmed that Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri, Brian Tonna and Karl Cini should be criminally investigated. This was the second magistrate that had made such a declaration but nothing had happened, the former PN leader said, adding that the PM and others had filed an appeal to stop an inquiry from being launched.

“Only those who have something to hide would do such a thing,” Busuttil declared.

The PN MP said the PM’s appeal had ‘coincidentally’ been assigned to a judge who is married to a PL MEP. He said he hoped that the constitutional case calling for the judge’s recusal would be concluded soon.

Turning back to the 17 Black claims, Busuttil said Mizzi and Schembri were not credible when they said they did not know who owned the company. No one could believe them when they had admitted that the company was a target client.

Busuttil also said there was a link with them and the power station, which means that “money from the power station might be ending up in their pockets.”

There might also be a link with the rising energy bills, he said.

“I would say that the money is still being paid to them, through different routes. This is why I am fighting for justice, for the truth to come out.”