Comment of the day: Which private law firm Manfred Galdes was negotiating with?

The Nationalist Party jumped on the news that Manfred Galdes resigned from Head at Financial Intelligence Audit Unit (FIAU) connecting it to the Panama Papers. But a reader sent in the following comment which gives a new twist as to why Gldes decided to call it a day at FIAU.

The comment reads;

Surprise surprise. This Manfred Galdes guy, an Austin Gatt and Tonio Fenech henchman has been negotiating with a private law firm whilst being the CEO of FIAU. The public needs to know who’s law firm it is. Did he have any Conflict of interest?

In a statement the government yesterday said that it was informed of Galdes’s resignation by the Attorney Generali after he actually resigned from his post. Dr Peter Grech is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of FIAU.

A Ministry of Finance spokesman told the media that “Dr Galdes resigned his post at the FIAU to take up a post in private practice”.

The Government has criticised the PN for its spin tying Galdes’s resignation with the Panama Papers investigation calling the PN’s statement irresponsible. The FIAU is a totally independent institution.

Manfred Galdes never mentioned the allegations being made by the PN as his reason for resigning his post.

While stressing the fact that FIAU is completely autonomous and that there is no interference what so ever, the chairman of the FIAU is the Attorney General and if Simon Busuttil has any doubts about Dr Peter Grech who has been appointed Attorney General by the previous administration, then he should say so in public.