VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Joseph Muscat, Malta’s prime minister at the time Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated, said he was “baffled” by the jury’s decision to acquit Yorgen Fenech, while stressing that jurors and institutions should not be attacked over the verdict.
Speaking at a press conference, Muscat said he wanted to “restore the truth of what happened” and defended his government’s handling of the investigation and its response to the assassination. The former prime minister said he had been kept informed by the police during the investigation, but denied ever asking for or receiving information about planned arrests or searches.
Muscat also defended the decision to consider granting a presidential pardon to Melvin Theuma, saying that the Attorney General and the then Police Commissioner had convinced him that it was necessary to unblock the investigation. He later clarified, however, that the Cabinet ultimately decided not to grant the pardon.
The former prime minister also defended the handling of the protests that followed the assassination, saying he had instructed the police not to intervene in the demonstrations. He said his resignation had been motivated by a desire to avoid even the appearance of political interference in the investigation.
Muscat said he accepted and respected the findings of the public inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, while noting that some aspects appeared to conflict with the jury’s verdict, particularly with regard to the Electrogas project.
Muscat called for “soul-searching” over relations between politicians and businesspeople, questioning whether direct communication with major investors should automatically be regarded as suspicious. He also defended the Fenech family and addressed criticism over his acceptance of a watch from Yorgen Fenech.
Recalling the hours immediately following Caruana Galizia’s assassination, Muscat said he initially feared it could have been a terrorist attack. He recalled ordering the closure of Malta’s ports, increased surveillance at the airport, and instructing then chief of staff Keith Schembri to contact international authorities.
According to Muscat, assistance from the FBI and the use of tracking technologies subsequently helped identify people who are now in prison.
He concluded by saying that it is legitimate to scrutinise the verdict, but warned that attacks against jurors could undermine public confidence.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
