[WATCH] Muscat reiterates he has no access to FIAU report, dismisses resignation calls

Joseph Muscat denies knowledge of FIAU report

Once again dismissing calls to step down as a sitting magistrate investigates allegations that his wife holds shares in the infamous Egrant Inc, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reiterated that he was not privy to any investigation or report that may have been compiled by the FIAU, the government’s anti-money laundering agency.

Reports by the Times of Malta on Thursday claimed that former police commissioner Michael Cassar walked away from his role a day after the FIAU recommended further investigations into Keith Schembri.

But the prime minister turned tables onto the Attorney General, whom he said fully trusted to do his job.

“I have absolute trust in the Attorney General and I am certain that the Attorney General, who is the chairman of the FIAU, would have taken any steps he deemed required,” Muscat said.

PN leader Simon Busuttil, who this morning appeared before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja to present evidence on allegations that Schembri received kickbacks on the sale of Maltese passports, also said he testified on the Egrant allegations.

Busuttil would not confirm that evidence he presented emerged from the FIAU report.

The Prime Minister would not say whether any FIAU report existed which flagged Schembri’s involvement, insisting that “no political person has access to the FIAU report and any access would be illegal”.

“It would be illegal for me to see or access the FIAU report. How can I know whether any other investigations were carried out? Because I start questioning whether other reports may have been compiled on other persons of interests, who today may benefit from all that’s being said… they may be resting on the knowledge that none of these institutions can make their information public.”

According to Muscat, “the name of the game was in individuals who are trying to jam the economy and harm the country, fully knowing that institutions cannot make their information public”.

Holding his ground, the Prime Minister once again dismissed calls to step down arguing that the investigation surrounded “lies” levelled against him.

Hitting out at the PN leader, Muscat claimed that calls for his imprisonment were “Busuttil’s only way” to get rid of him.

“It’s mostly a reflection on Busuttil’s weak character, who when under pressure throws tantrums,” Muscat said.

The leader of the opposition has pledged to protect any sources holding information on the government.