Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/201600
10 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2013 Former TV host reiterates innocence, hints that minister's aide enquired about his case A former Where's Everybody? TV host who is embroiled in a police investigation over whether he took pictures of government officials, has alleged that a police inspector who was interrogating him received a call from home affairs minister's chief of staff, Silvio Scerri. Vella, who had his PBS programme terminated and who now works as an immigration official, was called in for questioning on the alleged taking of photos in a restricted area at Malta International Airport, has reiterated his innocence on accusations that he had photographed two government officials as they passed through passport control. The official, former TV presenter Norman Vella, released a copy of the statement he gave to the police during the interrogation. Vella denies having taken photos of government's chief communications coordinator Kurt Farrugia and Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson Ramona Attard. On the other hand, government sources insist that he is seen on a CCTV taking pictures of the communications coordinators. In his statement to the police, Vella insists that during the interrogation and in the presence of her colleagues, police inspector Maria Stella Attard took a call in which she answered, "who is Silvio Scerri?" – a reference to the chief of staff of Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia – and that PL backbencher Marlene Farrugia has stood up for Norman Vella Norman Vella insists he is innocent he heard her say she does not divulge any information except to the police commissioner. Later, Silvio Scerri issued a reaction, stating that he called the Police Community and Media Relations Unit to enquire about the arrest. "The person who took my call at the CMRU told me she did not know anything but that she would check on the matter... if anything, it was the CMRU member who was inquiring on the matter after I first called up for information." Scerri said he was only following up on journalists' questions, to find out what had led to Vella's arrest. "Since Ramona Attard was abroad, journalists were contacting me as chief of staff for information on the matter." Norman Vella insists that he was under arrest while being interrogated, in contrast to comments made by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in which he said that Vella had only been taken for questioning. He underlined that none of the photos he was accused of taking had been found on either his mobile or on his tablet. Both items were confiscated by police. "I was told that CCTV footage would be analysed – I declare that any footage of me with a mobile phone in my hand [refers to me using the device] for my own personal use, and not to take any photos. I was also told at the start of the interrogation that I would be suspended from work, which decision was changed in the course of the interrogation," Vella said. Norman Vella has been a hate figure for the Labour Party, during his time at PBS he was renowned for his partisan approach to political subjects. Nonetheless, he has managed to garner the support of Marlene Farrugia, the Labour backbencher and partner to Labour Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia. She has hit out at the treatment meted out to Vella. Vella insists that he was under arrest while being interrogated, in contrast to comments by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who claimed Vella had only been taken for questioning Police have investigated whether Vella had photographed Kurt Farrugia and Ramona Attard (top)