All staff members at the office of PN MEP David Casa said in a statement this morning that they had never witnessed any of the allegations made in a Malta Today story linking the MEP with drug use.

Malta Today’s editor, Saviour Balzan, penned a story he said was based on the testimony of a former employee who recounted nights at hotels with drugs, even saying that “his drug habits were well known to his entourage and most of his close aides and friends”.

His claims were refuted by all members of staff at Casa’s office who said: “Throughout the duration of our employment with MEP David Casa, we have never witnessed any of the allegations published in today’s edition of Malta Today. We have always experienced exemplary, professional and dedicated behaviour from MEP David Casa, whose work ethic and committent to his causes is why we choose to be employed in his office”.

The staff also said that in the past months they have witnessed “a systematic vicious attack” targeting Casa and his office, “but these new allegations are a new low and have gone too far. We are disgusted by the incessant efforts to tarnish Mr Casa’s reputation and prevent him from continuing his work”.

In the last months, the MEP has been threatened with criminal action by the FIAU, civil action by the lawyers of the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri who represent Pilatus Bank. In a “coordinated, vicious hate campaign,” Labour activists also said he should be hanged.

In another story in August, also by Balzan in Malta Today, Casa was accused of abusing EU funds “now proven to have been a complete fabrication,” Casa said.

The statement was signed by all nine members of Mr Casa’s staff: Nicholas Azzopardi, Paul Degabriele, Salvatore Ellul Bonici, Michael Fenech, Andrew Formosa, Rebecca Galea, Fredrick Magro, Christian Micallef, Etienne Zammit Guglielmi.