John Dalli has reacted to the news that he will be charged over a €60 million bribery scandal by saying he died from Covid-19 three months ago.
The former EU commissioner faces criminal charges over an attempt by his aide in 2012 to solicit a €60 million bribe to help overturn an EU-wide ban on snus, a form of smokeless tobacco.
“Sadly, I regret to inform you that I passed away in June, after testing positive for Covid-19,” Dalli told Bis-Serjetà in an email “from beyond the grave”.
“It was a swift death, as my body was weak from all the vicious attacks on me over the years, but at least I can finally be at peace. And as a result, it is impossible for the police to bring any charges against me, since it would obviously be absurd to prosecute someone who is deceased. Not that I was guilty while still alive, of course. Instead, you should remember me as the pure, honest, persecuted man I was.”
Meanwhile, Konrad Mizzi has announced that he is also feeling mortally ill.
“Naħseb it won’t be long before I niltaqa’ ma’ John in heaven,” he said.
