Prime Minister Abela says he does not have a copy of 17 Black inquiry report

Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that he does not have a copy of the 17 Black inquiry report.

The Prime Minister was responding to questions from the press about the 17 Black scandal.

The news recently broke that the magisterial inquiry into the company known as 17 Black concluded, and that several individuals, including former Minister Konrad Mizzi, the former Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, Yorgen Fenech and others are to face charges.

Leaked emails that had emerged years ago had shown that 17 Black was to allegedly become one of the main sources of funds for the Panama companies that were owned by Schembri and Mizzi.

He was asked whether he should apologise on behalf of the Labour Party, but did not do so and said that the biggest apology should be made by the Nationalist Party "because of how it is participating in selective attacks on some institutions." He added that the institutions he was referring to were the Police Force and the Attorney General.

Prime Minister Abela has indicated that he believes the inquiry should be published, along with saying that he believes all such inquiries should be made public.

The Prime Minister said that the PN damages the Police Force and insults the Office of the Attorney General, but uses a different approach with the Courts.

Abela said that instead of recognising the Police Force and the Attorney General for their good work and encouraging them to continue working, the PN is trying to break them down. Abela added that the government cannot permit this, and said that he is determined to continue defending the institutions.

He remarked that the worst type of approach which can be taken is that of the PN. "Disgusting is the word I have to use," he remarked. "The attack on the Attorney General, the disparaging words - is this the respect that the Nationalist Party has towards the institutions?"

"Who is the Nationalist Party to say that the Attorney General is incompetent? Maybe there is a Nationalist Party Leader who is incompetent. That is a subjective opinion, but to say that the Attorney General is incompetent and attribute disparaging adjectives to them is the worst form of disservice that can be done towards the work of institutions."

The Prime Minister remarked that the PN has lied about how there are those who form part of the PL or the government who were indicated in the inquiry. "A total lie," he stated.

Abela stated that he has full faith in all of the country's institutions and believes that they should be able to do their work serenely.

In reaction, the Nationalist Party said that instead of apologising for the wrongdoing "carried out by individuals at the heart of the Labour Party in light of the scandal surrounding the company 17 Black, the Panama Papers, and corruption linked to the Electrogas power station, Robert Abela lashed out at the PN and its leader, Bernard Grech. An apology is the least Robert Abela should offer given the serious circumstances our country is currently facing in terms of governance."

"In the most brazen manner, Robert Abela is refusing to apologise on behalf of the Labour Party for the actions carried out by the highest-ranking officials of the Labour Government who, now that the Magisterial Inquiry has concluded, will be charged with a series of criminal offences."

"The list of these individuals includes Keith Schembri - the former Chief of Staff of Robert Abela's predecessor, Joseph Muscat, with whom Abela made a shady pact to become Prime Minister; and Konrad Mizzi - one of the first individuals to embrace Robert Abela when he was appointed Labour leader five years ago. The PN reminds everyone that Mizzi and Schembri were among the highest-ranking officials of the Labour Government and publicly stated that they always acted according to the instructions of Joseph Muscat. They collaborated with business figures embedded in the Labour core, such as Yorgen Fenech, Paul Apap Bologna, and Mario Pullicino, to defraud the Maltese people through a €450 million contract," the PN said.

"It is scandalous that Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg continues to act as a shield for Robert Abela and his Government by refusing to fully publish the Inquiry and even rejecting requests to provide a copy of its conclusions to those who initiated it."