Updated | PN insists Mallia ‘politically responsible’, minister denies information cover-up

Opposition says magisterial inquiry on the shoot-out involving home affairs minister Manuel Mallia’s driver will not determine whether the minister was responsible for covering up the facts

Beppe Fenech Adami (centre) with Jason Azzopardi (left) and Alessia Psaila Zammit
Beppe Fenech Adami (centre) with Jason Azzopardi (left) and Alessia Psaila Zammit
Fenech Adami: 'Mallia politically responsible over cover-up of shooting incident' • Video: Ray Attard

The magisterial inquiry on the shoot-out involving home affairs minister Manuel Mallia’s driver will not determine whether the minister was responsible for covering up the facts, the Opposition said today.

Addressing a press conference in reaction to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s insistence on waiting for the outcome of a magisterial inquiry to determine whether any responsibility will have to be borne by Mallia, the PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami explained that the inquiry will only look into the dynamics of the incident.

“Mallia must shoulder the political responsibility, it’s natural he was not the one who ordered the shooting, but he is responsible for the statement issued 30 minutes after the incident.”

While reiterating the PN’s call for Mallia’s head, Fenech Adami said it was “obvious that the minister was not on site and couldn’t have influenced the events as they unfolded.”

In a statement at 5:30pm, Mallia denied having tried to any of the facts of the incident. "As explained, there was no attempt at hiding any information, except to correct the only ministerial statement made in the following day during the press conference. Most importantly, a magisterial inquiry was launched immediately to establish all the facts. This government will let the magisterial inquiry establish what happened."

Yesterday, PN leader Simon Busuttil accused Mallia of issuing a misleading statement at the time of the incident, stating that two warning shots were fired in the air, when in fact there are at least two bullets lodged in the back of the car involved in the accident.

Busuttil also called on the Prime Minister to sack Mallia, and accused him of being weak and unable to control his ministers.

Fenech Adami insisted that Manuel Mallia is “politically responsible for the statement,” adding that Muscat’s reaction “shocked and angered the people.”

On Wednesday evening, Briton Stephen Morrison Smith allegedly hit the stationary minister’s vehicle in Gzira and Mallia’s driver and police constable Paul Sheehan gave chase, to the car and fired at least two shots.

Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi questioned whether Sheehan has been detained and whether he underwent a breathalyser test.

“Why was the Briton’s car removed from the site immediately?” Azzopardi asked, adding that normally the evidence is not removed from the site before the necessary investigations are completed.

The MP also asked why the minister’s government plates were allegedly removed in the immediate aftermath of the incident, as reported.

Azzopardi also said that, back in May 2014, he had expressed concern over a decision to stop training for police officers at the Police Academy. Back then, the MP said, he had asked Minister Mallia whether he would be ready to shoulder political responsibility in the eventuality that something went wrong during the use of a firearm by a police officer.

“The minister had been more focused on accusing me of spin and negativity,” Azzopardi added.