A yet unnamed company based overseas would be carrying out an audit of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s affairs, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.
“I think it [the name of the company] will be communicated in the coming days. It is a big company. It is independent and, as far as I know, it is not based in Malta, so it is an international audit firm. If it is discovered there was money [in Dr Mizzi’s Panama company and/or New Zealand trust] and subsequently removed, then Konrad Mizzi will no longer remain a minister.
“Even if there was nothing untoward, this is still a decision that could have either not been taken or taken better. But, still, the Opposition leader would not have told the truth. However, I will accept the criticism that we need to raise our standards,” Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat seemed unsure as to whether the audit by the international firm was already under way.
Asked whether the very fact that Dr Mizzi owned a company in Panama was already grounds for resignation, Dr Muscat said that was not the point.
“That is not the point. The point is whether he was going to declare it or not. I saw Minister Mizzi’s draft declaration and, although he could have done this...
