Gaffarena quizzed by police

Businessman Joe Gaffarena was arrested on Sunday and held for questioning throughout yesterday as part of “a broad” police investigation.

A controversial figure, Mr Gaffarena’s name cropped up earlier this year in an inquiry report by retired judge Michael Mallia into the behaviour of former police inspector Daniel Zammit.

Described by Judge Mallia as a “dubious character” with a “copious criminal record” with particular reference to construction illegalities, sources said it was unclear what Mr Gaffarena was being questioned on.

The inquiry found that Mr Zammit had acted “unethically” in a 2008 murder investigation involving a relative of Mr Gaffarena.

The report established that Mr Zammit had forged business links with Mr Gaffarena in the months after the murder of Neville Baldacchino, allegedly shot dead by Steve Caruana. Mr Caruana was the husband of Mr Gaffarena’s daughter, Romina, and had surprised his wife in bed with Mr Baldacchino at the family home in Qormi.

Judge Mallia said the murder investigation had been heavily “compromised”. The crime scene was destroyed when the house was pulled down to make way for apartments. The court case against Mr Caruana is still ongoing.

Mr Gaffarena owns the Qormi petrol station that was built in breach of a building permit some years ago, before it was regularised after the election.

His son, Marco Gaffarena, was embroiled earlier this year in a scandal involving the Land Department over the expropriation of a Valletta property.