The EU anti-fraud watchdog is being investigated by Belgian police over claims it illegally tapped the phones of suspects in the John Dalli snus case.

The Sunday Times of London yesterday reported that Belgian investigators asked the European Commission to lift the diplomatic immunity of officials from the

anti-fraud agency OLAF. The officials had been accused as far back as 2013 of making recordings of phone conversations without judicial authorisation, which is illegal under Belgian law.

The crucial call was made by Inge Delfosse, a tobacco lobbyist, to Silvio Zammit, Mr Dalli’s former canvasser, from OLAF’s headquarters. This recorded phone call was instigated by OLAF, a day before the agency’s chief, Giovanni Kessler, came to Malta to interrogate Mr Zammit in July 2012.

Citing from a report by OLAF’s supervisory committee, the newspaper said the conversation was recorded without Mr Zammit’s knowledge and this constituted “unjustified interference with the right to the respect for private life”.

Dr Kessler could be held personally responsible if it emerges that he ordered the phone tapping.

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