The Maltese government has accused Dutch MP Pieter Omzigt who is investigating the handling of the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Galizia, of ‘partiality’ following a critical first report into the matter.

However, the request by MP Manuel Mallia to have Omtzigt replaced as a European council rapporteur was rejected, the Times of Malta reported.

So, on the record, ‘the government [of Malta] is disappointed that the Parliamentary Assembly did not take the opportunity to review my rapporteurship [on the assassination of Daphne Carurana Galizia] an appoint someone who can be trusted to be independent, impartial… (1) pic.twitter.com/aZirnPpBsP

— Pieter Omtzigt (@PieterOmtzigt) September 12, 2018

Galizia, an investigative journalist who wrote a much-read blog on corruption in her country which frequently involved politicians, was killed by a car bomb near her home in 2017.

The Maltese government has ruled out that the murder could be connected to criticism of the government but questions have been raised by Europe’s law enforcement body Europol about the Maltese government’s willingness to cooperate with the investigation into her death.

In May three men were arrested in connection with her death but they have denied any involvement. The search for the perpetrators is ongoing.

In his report, Omtzigt found that the Maltese state of law and the murder inquiry itself were seriously flawed and that conflicts of interest touched people in high places, including the prime minister, RTL Nieuws writes.

Omzigt, who is preparing for another visit to the island, said he cannot imagine the Maltese government will refuse him access into the country. ‘They are under an obligation to  cooperate and that is what I am counting on,’ he told RTL.