Why were ferry logs and cameras not checked, PN asks?

Nationalist MP and Shadow Minister for Justice Dr Jason Azzopardi yesterday questioned why the logs and cameras of the Gozo ferry were not checked as part of the inquiry into allegations that two ministers had interfered in a drug investigation.

Speaking during a press conference, Dr Azzopardi said it is very easy to verify what ministerial cars were on the ferry crossing over to Gozo on the night that, it was alleged, two persons changed their statement to the police after political interference. “Was a Ministerial car on the boat?” he asked.

The Nationalist MP called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to publish the whole “transparent” witness reports of the inquiry. He also commented that the report “highlights what did not happen in the inquiry more than it highlighted what did happen”.

Last Saturday the government published the findings of an inquiry into a story published by Malta Today that spoke of political interference in a police investigation. The inquiry found that no such interference had taken place.

Checking logs and cameras of the Gozo Ferry was one of the factors Dr Azzopardi suggested should have been looked into. Others included calling PN Gozo Shadow Minister Chris Said, as well as questioning the drug traffickers involved in the case. “These are all elementary,” said Dr Azzopardi, adding that anyone who was really interested in finding out the truth would have definitely looked into these measures.

Answering questions by the media, Dr Azzopardi said that during the Nationalist Party administration, inquiries were always directed by present or former members of the judiciary. “It is something never heard of for someone who is not (linked to the judiciary) to be leading the inquiry,” he said.

The Nationalist Party have been articulating their skepticism and questioning the thoroughness of the inquiry into the Gozo drugs case since it was published last week.

The government rejected the Opposition’s call for the testimony, saying that what the Opposition was seeking went against practice in administrative and judicial inquiries and the Attorney General had advised against publication.

The Office of the Prime Minister pointed out that evidence was given behind closed doors so as not to prejudice future case hearings and also not to prejudice third parties.

The government also said it was the one that started publishing inquiry reports, and it would not take lessons from the PN.