Updated | PN presses Muscat for answers on Anton Refalo's five month silence

The PN has asked why current Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo did not speak up about his knowledge of the alleged private works carried out at government cost earlier, after a court was told, earlier today, that whistleblower Joe Cauchi had met with him five months before the MaltaToday broke the story.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the opposition Nationalist party asked why Refalo had effectively sat on the information for five months, accusing him of hiding this information from the police, whose investigation was sparked by a MaltaToday article.

Joseph Muscat has no other option but to force Refalo to answer for his deeds or confirm his weakness in matters concerning Anton Refalo ,  the PN said. 

Government reacts

In reaction, the Gozo ministry accused the opposition of “attacking” who acted correctly and led to Anthony Debono’s arraignment.

“Facts show that upon receiving information on the alleged works-for-votes, Gozo minister Anton Refalo approached the competent authorities and the first ever whistleblower exposed the shortcomings under the PN administration.”

This, the ministry added, led to the court proceedings as was confirmed today by the permanent secretary in court.  

This, the statement added, contrasts with the leader of the opposition Simon Busuttil’s inaction despite learning about the works-for-votes two years ago.