Political parties at each other's throats after MaltaToday story on police investigation

The Nationalist Party has rubbished concerns raised over a police investigation in January 2013, that was never pursued by the Maltese police, hindering a police investigation by the Dutch authorities into money laundering by suspected drug traffickers.

In a statement this morning, the PN claimed that the investigative report was "simply a deviation" from the arrival of the LNG tanker in Malta.

The Prime Minister this morning announced that an independent inquiry, led by a retired judge, will be conducted.

The Labour Party described the PN's reaction as "worrying", whilst auguring that the facts of the case, dating back to when Beppe Fenech Adami was parliamentary assistant for home affairs, emerge. It went on to add the PN must shoulder its political responsibilities.

Meanwhile, PN supporters attending a political activity by Simon Busuttil in Luqa blocked members of the media from asking questions, as he was ushered out of the building and straight to his car. Earlier, upon his arrival, Busuttil ignored questions by the press and kept on walking.

The name of PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami cropped up as one of the directors of the fiduciary services company that handles the affairs of CapitalOne Investment Group.

Along with investigative journalist Mark Hollingsworth - known for 30 years of investigative journalism with reports appearing in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and the Guardian - the MaltaToday investigation uncovered the frustration of Dutch authorities that not all evidence connected to banking transactions by CapitalOne were passed on to them by the Maltese police.

Contacted yesterday by MaltaToday, Fenech Adami denied any knowledge of the case, adding that he was never contacted by the police - even though an asset freeze was ordered on request of the Dutch police.