Godfrey Scicluna who suspended himself as head of the Security Service will be “completely detached” from the agency, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

A spokesman said Mr Scicluna asked to be suspended on Saturday after the Police Commissioner informed him criminal charges would be filed in court against him.

The charges relate to a traffic accident in last June when Mr Scicluna was parking his car in Paola and reversed into an elderly man.

The man, who was seriously hurt, died of natural causes last Saturday.

The spokesman said that, after being briefed , the Prime Minister acceded to Mr Scicluna’s request.

“During his suspension, Mr Scicluna will be completely detached from the Security Service,” the spokesman said when asked if the Prime Minister would sack the former police assistant commissioner.

The spokesman made no reference as to who will head the Security Service, which is equivalent to a secret service with special powers to tap telephones and access e-mails.

Meanwhile, the police yesterday denied press reports that alleged Mr Scicluna will be charged with trying to hamper police investigations.

They said criminal charges against Mr Scicluna were limited to the accident that happened last year. Questions on why the charges were being filed months after the accident remained unanswered at the time of going to print.

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