Abela declines to comment on Amanda Muscat revelations
PM says he has not intention of prejudicing the case
Robert Abela declined to comment on reports that Clayton Bartolo’s wife, Amanda Muscat, received over €120,000 in payments from Fortina, which have come under police scrutiny.
“I do not comment on pending investigations. God forbid I did so. I also believe that the press should not involve itself in pending investigations, as it prejudices the case either in favour of or against the individuals concerned. It is usually against them," Abela said.
The prime minister said commenting on the case would mean putting undue pressure on investigators as well as those at the centre of an investigation.
On Monday, Times of Malta revealed that former tourism minister Bartolo and Muscat were both questioned last year about the payments as part of a wider police probe into potential corruption that kicked off in December 2024.
While receiving payments from Fortina, Muscat’s employment records had her listed as a Central Bank of Malta employee, entitling her to certain perks, including a subsidised loan rate.
However, concerns have been raised within the attorney general's office about whether there is sufficient evidence to support a potential prosecution of the couple, as charges should only be pursued when supported by a sound evidentiary basis.
Bartolo and Muscat vehemently deny wrongdoing and insist all payments she received were for legitimate work.
Bartolo resigned as tourism minister in November 2024, hours before Times of Malta revealed the existence of a report by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit detailing €50,000 worth of suspicious payments his wife received from Italian cyclist Valerio Agnoli.
Investigators suspect the payments were a kickback for a Malta Tourism Authority contract given to Agnoli under Bartolo’s tenure.
Those revelations came on the back of a bombshell Standards Commissioner report which revealed that Bartolo's partner was being paid as a government consultant despite not doing work related to the role.
The ex-minister, who has spent the past year serving as an independent MP, has already confirmed he intends to seek re-election and hinted he will run on the Labour Party ticket.
When asked on Monday, Abela declined to comment on whether he intends to welcome Bartolo back into the Labour parliamentary group.