Busuttil’s chauffeur cleared of wrongdoing in fuel inquiry

A magisterial inquiry has cleared Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of all wrongdoing, following allegations of “discrepancies” between fuel consumed and mileage reported for the PN leader’s official car.

The parliamentary accounts office had referred the case to the police after noticing discrepancies back in December.

Busuttil called the press to announce that he has lifted the suspension on his chauffeur, Tony Tabone, after the magisterial inquiry – conducted by Clare Stafrace Zammit – cleared him of all charges.

“This case shows the difference between the PN and the PL,” Busuttil said. “While I instantly suspended my chauffeur over such a minor issue, the Prime Minister has not yet suspended [energy minister] Konrad Mizzi and [OPM chief of staff] Keith Schembri for opening companies in Panama.”

The PN Leader noted that Labour had claimed that he was caught up “in a serious case of fraud of public funds.

“It is truly unfortunate that Joseph Muscat’s government has tarnished politics as such,” he said.

He called on Speaker Anglu Farrugia to force whoever was behind the original fuel report to shoulder responsibility – at least by apologizing.

MaltaToday attempted to question Busuttil about construction works carried out on Mario de Marco’s house back in 2011 that the PN deputy leader only paid for last month.

However, Busuttil flat out refused to take any questions that weren’t related to the inquiry.