Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1061063
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 DECEMBER 2018 4 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It now turns out that Gafà has been transferred elsewhere, ac- cording to comments by Muscat yesterday. "What has happened is that a transfer has taken place, for- malising something that has been in the offing for some time now," Muscat said, without wishing to disclose where Gafà will be working. Gafà was revealed to have travelled to Libya and, ac- cording to official commu- nications from Tripoli, met with government ministers in his capacity of "special envoy of the Prime Minister". Haithem Tajouri is a sea- soned former army com- mander and current militia leader who leads the Tripo- li's Revolutionaries' Brigade (TRB). The TRB is Tripoli's most powerful group and is affiliated with a few other groups in the capital. Tajouri enjoys good relations with the Government of Na- tional Accord, but he has been the subject of very serious al- legations concerning human rights abuses and extortion. A 2016 report by the UN Secu- rity Council highlighted how Tajouri and his associates had threatened central bank of- ficials on multiple occasions to obtain letters of credit and other facilities, to the tune of $20 million. But Muscat refused to be drawn into commenting on Gafà's visits in Libya. "I am not going to comment on meetings I am not privy to, and which were not mandated by the OPM – my comments stop here. It was not an official visit or meeting, something we made clear to the Libyans and to Gafà himself." Muscat was also cautious about references to Tajouri as a war criminal. "Until a few weeks ago, Haf- tar was considered to be a war criminal and he has held a number of international meetings with us. At this point in time, without getting into who Gafà has met, in a country like Libya you must speak to as many people as possible." Muscat was also clear that the civil servant had his sup- port. "I think Neville Gafà is doing a good job." Gafà has insisted that he trav- elled to the Libyan capital on a "personal visit" and played down reports that he had met the notorious Libyan militia leader during his trip, insisting he had simply "bumped into him on the street". Gafà had not worked at the health ministry offices in Merchants Street since he was implicated in an alleged medi- cal visas racket in 2016, and was moved out to the Foun- dation for Medical Services. A police investigation found no proof of wrongdoing in al- legations that he was charging thousands of liri to issue med- ical visas to Libyans. PM's defence a 'kick in the teeth' to peace efforts – PD The Prime Minister's de- fence of Gafa did not go down well with Democratic Party leader Godfrey Farrugia, who described Muscat's actions as "a kick in the teeth" for all members of Malta's diplomat- ic service and those working towards peace, freedom and democracy in Libya. "Instead of following the ex- ample set by his deputy Chris Fearne and demand that Gafa answers questions and shoul- ders responsibility, Muscat absolves Gafa and protects him," Farrugia said. "When faced with a choice between accountability and protecting Keith Schem- bri's friends, Joseph Muscat chooses the latter, every single time." The PD leader said the party would continue insisting that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister give a full account of Gafa's actions in Parliament. "Our boss are the citizens. We answer to the citizens, not Keith Schembri," Farrugia said. mcosta@mediatoday.com.mt 'I think Neville Gafà is doing a good job' Neville Gafa has insisted that he travelled to the Libyan capital on a personal vsit