Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/829524
18 An allegation has emerged im- plicating Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi in a Dubai com- pany that was supposed to have taken commissions from the LNG tanker owners, stated in an as yet incomplete FIAU report. Have you investigated the allega- tions in this report? I can confirm that it is absolutely false. I can also confirm what the FIAU said – it is rather extraor- dinary that it has released a state- ment to deny the conclusion of that report. In fact the FIAU said the results are 'not as has been reported' – the newspaper report says the Dubai company could have been used to transfer money from Ar- mada to your people. Don't you think it is time for this report to be made public? That decision is in the hands of the FIAU. In my opinion, the whole point is that it demonstrates how there is no truth in what the Opposition leader says about the institutions being hijacked by this government. I have never seen this sort of selective and systematic leaks from people within the insti- tutions with the aim of giving the Opposition a political advantage. In the end it only proves that there is no truth in what the Opposition says about the institutions. It is rather extraordinary that the FIAU felt the need to release this state- ment because it indicates that the newspaper's report, which doesn't actually say money was transferred but is rather ambiguous, is not truthful. The allegation is bribery on a key policy plank of the Labour government – energy, the LNG tanker. Your government has this negative reputation because of the Panama Papers. Isn't the allegation a result of the fact that we never saw an automatic inves- tigation into Mizzi and Schembri on Panama? I think the whole point with the retention of Schembri and Mizzi is that I made a decision that cost me points politically, but it was the decision the country needed. I needed them to carry out a cru- cial project, to lead forward invest- ment in the country. I'm paying the political price but in the end I take responsibility for it. Now we are in a situation where Mizzi will be judged by the people, where I will be judged by the people, where Schembri will resign if there is any kind of investigation into him… I think there is hardly anyone who agrees with me about my han- dling of the situation with these two people. Maybe it was because I didn't give a thorough enough ex- planation … People say you chose your friends... They also say that I am a hostage to them. So I believe there are few people who agree with me on this point, but I shoulder responsibil- ity, unlike the Opposition leader, who jumped on the bandwagon of a lie and doesn't want to shoulder the responsibility of that lie. But while I take responsibility for all this, the malicious aspect of the situation is that others are stirring the pot, talking about Adrian Hill- man and so on even though they have nothing to do with the mat- ter, just to connect everything to this issue of Panama… on other things, there isn't 'just' allegations but mudslinging and insinuations. I take pleasure in the fact that there is a magistrate who will look into things, and if it turns out that there is somehow some link, he will open a criminal investigation. The FIAU reports released on Friday paint a picture of Schem- bri's offshore connections. He is your right-hand man. How can such predicate offences not be investigated automatically? I don't believe it is a crime, be- cause, in the same way, Mario de Marco is committing a crime, be- cause he is present in the structure of other [offshore] companies, as other people in the Nationalist Party. The difference is that we don't agree with tarnishing peo- ple's names simply for the sake of it. Schembri has a business back- ground. He had structures which were declared before he entered politics and he has reasons for do- ing it. Everything is declared and tax is being paid, that is the differ- ence. But the FIAU's preliminary reports went to the police, let's mention one, on 17 May, 2016. A week later Michael Cassar re- signed. Was he not allowed to investigate or did he not open an investigation? I never interfered in the work of any police commissioner. In fact, there is the problem that Lawrence Cutajar himself does not speak at all about the investigations that are suppos- edly taking place. Yes, but if they ask about the investigations into Beppe Fenech Adami they won't get any answer either. That's the point. Currently there is an ongoing investigation into money laundering, that Beppe Fenech Adami helped a foreign company launder drug money. If you ask the Commissioner he won't answer you either, because it is not his job, and it is not ethical to answer questions about possi- ble investigations. That is why I think the Opposi- tion leader has double standards. He published a [FIAU] report on Pilatus Bank. I am informed the report was followed by another report that says the bank's issues were solved. I think the Opposi- tion leader has this second report because he has good contact with the FIAU. The fact that he didn't publish it proves he has ulterior motives, that is to tarnish and lie. I expect more lies… I heard ru- mours that I am the owner of Gozo General Hospital, that I have a company with John Dalli in Dubai, that I have a home in Targa Gap, that I have a home in Sliema. These are all inventions and all lies…. I put myself on the line with this issue. I am saying that when the results of the investigation come out I will resign from whatever po- sition – not if it emerges that there is proof, but if it emerges that there is a hint of truth to it. That's different from proof, because you could be telling the truth and not have any proof. I am putting eve- rything, my whole career, my rep- utation, on the line. Why? Because what is being said about me is not true…. I am prepared to accept anything that comes out of the investiga- tion because I know the truth. It is not right for the Opposition leader to try to hide once setting all this in motion. Once again, yes- terday, he proved that he does not wish to shoulder responsibility. Don't you think it was contro- versial for the investigation to be launched, and then calling a general election? This is a refer- endum on Joseph Muscat. I think it is an election about the future. I don't mind having a ref- erendum about me because I kept my word with the Maltese people. It is a decision of whom the people want as Prime Minister and I don't mind the people choosing between me and Simon Busuttil. It is also a decision on who has the best plan for the future. I am certain people will consider everything and that they can see who has the best plan. There may be many who disagree with my decision to call a general election in this way. Today they can understand that if all these weeks had passed, the economy would have halted due to the in- stability that would have been cre- ated. In this way, after next Satur- day, I will continue to lead, if the people choose so. I have time and time again said that if the people don't choose me, I will accept their decision and leave straight away and continue my battle to clear my name of everything that has been said about me and my family… Once I'm re-elected I will con- tinue my work, knowing where my plan must go for this country. But I will also make sure the Opposi- tion leader will be held responsible for what he said about me and my family, and that he was the victim of a lie that someone else managed to convince him of. You said that it would be the magistrate's problem if the Egrant allegations are not true but you won't be Prime Minister. And certainly it is not fitting of a Prime Minister to speak of the magistrate in that manner. No, no, I didn't say that. I didn't say that. It is not fitting of the Op- position leader to say that it is 'im- possible that the magistrate does not find anything'. I think that is pressure, to say that if the magis- trate did not find anything, then there is something wrong with him. On my end, I was asked what will happen when the results of the inquiry will come out… In reality, it will be the Opposition leader's problem, with a government with perhaps a one-seat majority, based on a lie. That will not be a sustain- able position for him. However, if you remain Prime Minister you will have Keith Schembri by your side and Kon- rad Mizzi, as well… The people will choose their MPs and I will choose as ministers MPs chosen by the people. The issue is when the moment arrives, I have learned that I am not a person who is afraid of change. Keith Schembri has already said that he will resign from whatever position he holds if any kind of criminal investigation is launched into him. So do you have a substitute in mind for chief of staff? I'm not saying that. I'm saying that I have never been afraid of change and that change doesn't scare me. You put your head on the block on Egrant and it appears the Op- position has been wary lately on this allegation. You mentioned that you know who coordinat- ed this campaign against you. Don't you think it is time you ex- plained this? It would be time once all the facts are known and then I will publicly reveal all the information I have about how this issue transpired. The debate on Xarabank on Friday illustrates how there is no courtesy at all between you and Interview By Matthew Vella maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2017 Mizzi will be judged by the people, where I will be judged by the people, where Schembri will resign if there is any kind of investigation into him… RESPONSIBILITY 'Change does not sc I have time and time again said that if the people don't choose me, I will accept their decision and leave straight away PEOPLE'S DECISION