My, what sound principles…

Joseph Muscat entered the office of the Prime Minister on Monday to find that everything therein – the furniture, the computers, the telephones and whatnot – had been spirited away…

 

A lot of things pissed me off about the outgoing administration, as I believe I have made abundantly clear in 10 years writing under the government of Gonzi.

But not even I expected Lawrence Gonzi to end his career as PM so shabbily.

In the end, after all that talk of 'political integrity', of 'values' and of being 'on the right side of history', Gonzi did the equivalent of packing the hotel toiletries into his own luggage, and checking out of the room with the hotel's towels, toothpaste and soap still in his suitcase.

Only much worse, for the items that his party stole from the Maltese State last week were worth considerably more than towels and facecloths. Even if we ignore the monetary cost of the government property that went missing in the transfer of power - and we are talking a good few tens of thousands' worth of office equipment - there is the theft of information to take into account.   

Joseph Muscat entered the office of the Prime Minister on Monday to find that everything therein - the furniture, the computers, the telephones and whatnot - had been spirited away (leaving only childish 'messages' for the incoming administration which I won't even bother describing).

As a result, any plans he may have had to 'hit the ground running' were duly foiled. So apart from barefaced theft, Gonzi's last act as Prime Minister also amounts to sabotage.

All of which is perfectly understandable, as it is entirely in keeping with a government that had long lost sight of it own raison d'etre for years, and had in the end been reduced to little more than a facade to disguise the wholesale plunder of our country's limited assets and resources by a coterie of government-friendly gluttons.

I for one do not doubt that the outgoing Nationalist administration had plenty to hide. Just think of all the emails and other documentary evidence that those vanished computers would no doubt have contained: concerning Malta's fuel procurement deals in the past decade, among other sensitive dealings.

Who would have an interest in hiding that information, other than an administration which must have been aware of, and condoned, and possibly even participated in illegal activities such as the oil scandal (and maybe more we don't even know about)?

I am sorry to say this, but Gonzi chose to end his career as Prime Minister by sending out a clear message of GUILT. He made it patently obvious that the government he had presided over for a decade did indeed (as, let's face it, we all suspected anyway) have copious amounts of dirt on its own hands... and like any criminal fleeing the scene of the crime, Gonzi tried to destroy or hide all the evidence as he left.

And this is indicative of the way the PN visibly degenerated under his leadership: from a party which had vision and a clear sense of direction, to one which was actually little more than a skulk of thieves and swindlers who simply grabbed and appropriated anything they could lay their hands on... yes, all the way down to the office chairs and mouse-pads.

And it gets even shabbier, too. For Gonzi's last act as Prime Minister simply pales into insignificance compared to the wholesale abuse of public funding by a political party which (as Paul Borg Olivier constantly reminded us) could not afford to run a campaign on its own steam.

Last week, Robert Arrigo (MP) wrote a Facebook status update in which he revealed how one Nationalist candidate had apparently siphoned public funds into its own re-election campaign, in a blatant breach of electoral law (and all norms of political decency).

Allow me to quote verbatim:"I was one who had no supporting staff, paid by the taxpayer, to campaign, and who were transferred to a private apartment in Sliema to conduct a campaign from the taxpayers' money."

The Times identified the inferred 10th district candidate as former environment minister George Pullicino - though it didn't explain how it reached that conclusion.

I don't know if it was Pullicino or someone else who embezzled public funds to run a private campaign. What I do know is that the allegation is extremely serious. Embezzling public money is a crime which entails a potential prison sentence; and on this occasion the allegation has been made in public by a sitting MP. Yet it has not, to the best of my knowledge, even been investigated by the police.

Nor is embezzlement the only illegality involved in the operation. There is also a 'Corrupt Practices Act' in this country, which makes it technically illegal for political parties to use illicit means to gain an electoral advantage of any kind.

Even without this detail, I for one can't understand why a police force which was so very quick to respond to complaints about Facebook posts on the 'day of reflection', would sit on its backside and not take any action whatsoever when such compelling evidence emerges of a serious case of electoral fraud.

Why have the police not initiated an investigation into Arrigo's claims of multiple illegalities in the PN's campaign? Why has it not called in any of the OPM staff for questioning regarding the theft of public property, and the possible tampering with evidence in an ongoing criminal case?

Are we to understand that it is only ordinary citizens like you and I who are hauled through the judicial process when caught breaking the law? And that Nationalist Party officials enjoy some kind of special immunity to police investigation?

Perhaps the Police Commissioner may wish to take time out of his oh-so-very-busy schedule to inform us lesser mortals what's really going on here.

 

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Havign said that I do genuinely regret impugning the act to Gonzi himself, and as such I have just uploaded an apology to that effect...
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And yet there are no 'facts' of any kind that stand in the way of the assertions I made in this article... which incidentally refers to OPM (i didn;t even mention Casa Leone, which is where the doubt - if any - exists). It is TRUE that the incoming administration found files and computers missing from government offices: i verified this detail quite easily through sources within labour. Meanwhile i can;t help but note that nobody has even reacted to the much more serious allegation of taxpayers' money having gone into a Nationalist MP's private campaign fund... that is both theft and electroal fraud, and I am still waiting for an explanation as to why the police have not yet even initiated an investigation. Do they need a politician to come and hold their hand? What are they waiting for?
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And yet there are no 'facts' of any kind that stand in the way of the assertions I made in this article... which incidentally refers to OPM (i didn;t even mention Casa Leone, which is where the doubt - if any - exists). It is TRUE that the incoming administration found files and computers missing from government offices: i verified this detail quite easily through sources within labour. Meanwhile i can;t help but note that nobody has even reacted to the much more serious allegation of taxpayers' money having gone into a Nationalist MP's private campaign fund... that is both theft and electroal fraud, and I am still waiting for an explanation as to why the police have not yet even initiated an investigation. Do they need a politician to come and hold their hand? What are they waiting for?
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And yet there are no 'facts' of any kind that stand in the way of the assertions I made in this article... which incidentally refers to OPM (i didn;t even mention Casa Leone, which is where the doubt - if any - exists). It is TRUE that the incoming administration found files and computers missing from government offices: i verified this detail quite easily through sources within labour. Meanwhile i can;t help but note that nobody has even reacted to the much more serious allegation of taxpayers' money having gone into a Nationalist MP's private campaign fund... that is both theft and electroal fraud, and I am still waiting for an explanation as to why the police have not yet even initiated an investigation. Do they need a politician to come and hold their hand? What are they waiting for?
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And yet there are no 'facts' of any kind that stand in the way of the assertions I made in this article... which incidentally refers to OPM (i didn;t even mention Casa Leone, which is where the doubt - if any - exists). It is TRUE that the incoming administration found files and computers missing from government offices: i verified this detail quite easily through sources within labour. Meanwhile i can;t help but note that nobody has even reacted to the much more serious allegation of taxpayers' money having gone into a Nationalist MP's private campaign fund... that is both theft and electroal fraud, and I am still waiting for an explanation as to why the police have not yet even initiated an investigation. Do they need a politician to come and hold their hand? What are they waiting for?
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That's it Raphael, don't let the facts stand in the way of a good hysterical tantrum! The best journalists do not check their sources, accept all lies which suit their warped passions as gospel truths, and then proceed to throw up all over their readership. What a glorious blog post - a monument to your sound journalistic principles no doubt.
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Dear Moron, TMI, always anti New Movement, has taken a completely biased attitude since the enormous trumping to GonziPN at the polls. This is proven by the migration of commentators, known for their bias in favour of GonziPN, and associated PN acolytes to that on-line site, and who have been welcomed with open arms. I do not know, but could it be that there might be multiple millions involved, especially in the data yet to be traced, therefore this complete swing in favour of the old power broking clique?
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prosit...ghaxxaqta. http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-03-20/news/police-no-theft-of-equipment-from-ministries-reported-1206943745/
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prosit...ghaxxaqta. http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-03-20/news/police-no-theft-of-equipment-from-ministries-reported-1206943745/
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Emmanuel Mallia
This is the party, which, according to Paul Borg Olivier, is dedicated to The Sacred Heart Of Jesus !!
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Geeeee whiz, the new government has only been in place just over a week . These things take time and investigations on crimes of this scale time. Rest assured that all is being taken care of and those involved will have to answer for their actions. One must agree that at least the Commissioner of Police should make a statement on what the police is doing about it.
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Police aside, surely the new PL Govt should start by asking the Heads of Departments to account for what happened. And surely they will either answer directly as they would have been involved or investigate down the chain of command. All this information should be made public and then we'll see what the Police would do. The Government must be seen to be taking action. Or the place is so corrupt and the corruption is so endemic that no one knows how to act when corruption, fraud etc stares you in the face. Labour would be complicit in this culture if this is not nipped in the bud early!! Of course the reality is that we are talking about one of the most corrupt societies in the corrupt EU here! So I'm not holding my breath!!
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I have no doubt, that the GonziPN administration was not corrupt. But, if the Current Government and the Police do nothing regarding these Atrocious Criminal Acts, then I would have to suspect complicity. It has been said that “If an honest leader tolerates corruption with full knowledge, then the leader himself is equally corrupt.” This Reluctance to take action against these Obscene Criminal Acts by the relevant Authorities would not encourage a future Whistle Blower to come forward to divulge Criminal Activity. Thus, making the legislating for a Whistle-Blower Act useless!
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I have no doubt, that the GonziPN administration was not corrupt. But, if the Current Government and the Police do nothing regarding these Atrocious Criminal Acts, then I would have to suspect complicity. It has been said that “If an honest leader tolerates corruption with full knowledge, then the leader himself is equally corrupt.” This Reluctance to take action against these Obscene Criminal Acts by the relevant Authorities would not encourage a future Whistle Blower to come forward to divulge Criminal Activity. Thus, making the legislating for a Whistle-Blower Act useless!
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I have no doubt, that the GonziPN administration was not corrupt. But, if the Current Government and the Police do nothing regarding these Atrocious Criminal Acts, then I would have to suspect complicity. It has been said that “If an honest leader tolerates corruption with full knowledge, then the leader himself is equally corrupt.” This Reluctance to take action against these Obscene Criminal Acts by the relevant Authorities would not encourage a future Whistle Blower to come forward to divulge Criminal Activity. Thus, making the legislating for a Whistle-Blower Act useless!
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Mark Anthony Enriquez
prosit rapheal, jien cert li l-artiklu jirrifletti il fehma tal maggoranza tal maltin u ghawdxin,cert wkoll li kull cittadin jippretendi li il pulizija tihu azzjoni u IMMEDJATA, ghalija min ma jaqbilx ikun wiehed minnhom li ghamel sabutagg.Frankament ma nistax nifhem kif dr gonzi halla di l-oxxenita li tigri,naqbel ma franco, li biex tkun gvern ta kulhadd u ghal kulhadd ma tistax thalli lil mun hu responsabli scott free, jekk xejn b'rispett lejna it tax payers.
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Mark Anthony Enriquez
prosit rapheal, jien cert li l-artiklu jirrifletti il fehma tal maggoranza tal maltin u ghawdxin,cert wkoll li kull cittadin jippretendi li il pulizija tihu azzjoni u IMMEDJATA, ghalija min ma jaqbilx ikun wiehed minnhom li ghamel sabutagg.Frankament ma nistax nifhem kif dr gonzi halla di l-oxxenita li tigri,naqbel ma franco, li biex tkun gvern ta kulhadd u ghal kulhadd ma tistax thalli lil mun hu responsabli scott free, jekk xejn b'rispett lejna it tax payers.
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Just scandalous and certainly subject to criminal proceedings the way documents and computer with state documents were spirited away. This is the sort of behavior where in truly democratic countries where the rule of law reigns supreme we see senior civil servants, members of ministerial secretariats and ministers spend time behind bars. Just think of recent cases in Israel and the UK among others where some of the highest in the land ended their political career behind bars. Yet in Malta the full force of the law was applied on councilors who let their children email from local council devices. The public demands a full inquiry by the public service disciplinary body and a full criminal investigation by the police. Such action requires a lot of complicity including illegal action by junior civil servants, messengers, drivers etc., Offer a pardon to these provided they spill the beans on those who might still think they are untouchables.
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@ ianabela Yes you're right....it is unbelievable for us all to witness such filth left by the outgoing PN government. So in your opinion MT should refrain from showing what a dirty government Malta had ! These are facts ianabela. Seems that all this is salt rubbed in your wounds. Well done MT....keep it up.
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Well said. I really can't stand the fact that all those who committed these disgusting frauds and thefts are not arraigned. They should pay for what they did. I hope the government stresses and enforces such a matter, otherwise it will lose my trust already. Those are our money.
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I had to stop reading half way through this article due to feeling physically sick at the thought of the country's possessions and data being stolen and destroyed in such a manner. I had read about this on Maltastar with a certain ammount of disbelief but only now have I started really grasping the gravity of what happened. There's no better word to describe this than sabotage. The fact that it was carried out by fellow citizens makes it even harder to stomach.
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ianablea int bis-serjeta? Mela ghandek kaz gravi bhal dan u mohhok biex tibda tattakka l- gvern il- gdid bilkemm ghadu beda? Igifieri int kuntent li ghamel hekk il- partit tieghek?!?!
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I am 100% in agreement with what you wrote. The fact that even on the TOM site 99.99% of all comments (extremely numerous indicating the disgust commonly felt) condemn these actions, speaks volumes. Not to mention a record number of comments on MaltaStar's report. However, it is astounding how The Malta Independent (sic) played down this extremely serious matter, aided and abetted by its star b(l)ogger. I must also express my utter condemnation for Lawrence Gonzi, as these actions had an aura of systematic, coordination and premeditated action. From the governing party's side, one simply cannot just say that these atrocities could not be predicted. The Police are overworked, what with all the scandals left over by GonziPNisti! I recommend that the Whistle Blowers Act be enacted even before any other legislation; even before the 2013 budget.
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David Bongailas
Completely agree with Franco. I do hope that investigations are carried out where due. Robert Arrigo's accusations are extremely serious.
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Well written, one of your best, Raphael !
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You are absolutely right Raphael !!! If investigation have not commenced by the commissioner of police, then the government must take serious action. This cannot be allowed to happen with nothing done about it.At the very least, the data within those computers and files belong to the state. Their are clear penalties at law when government data is removed,discarded or destroyed. This is without taken into consideration all the other implications that you mention !!!
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Well written article, I only hope this reconcilliation business of Malta Taghna Lkoll does not turn into a forgive and forget matter, especially since the peole's tax money is involved. Can't see the reason of gonzi being invited to form part of the delegation going to the Vatican. I am sure Josseph has his own reasons but some of his actions are sure to backfire, this Mother Theresa syndrome is not a healthy practice in politics. Doing politics in a different manner only means being answerable for your actions, being transparent and apologise for your mistakes if done in good faith.
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Do not let this lie down! Hound the police till they take action.
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Unbelievable. We have a new government and all MT has been doing is haranguing the outgoing one. Maybe it's time to start holding the new government to account, the way MT did so assiduously for the past 5 years?
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kULLHADD RIEQED BIL-WATCHMAN, BIL-FORZI TA' SIGURTA, ....U L-PULUZIJA WKOLL! Dawn x'hin sejrin iqumu? Dan serq,dan irresponsabilita, dan vandalizmu, DAN KSUR TA' LIGI! Min ghamel ftit photocopies minn ufficcju ta' Kunsill Lokali tressaq i-Qorti wkoll, dan ha jibqa ghaddej????