PN expels Nikki Dimech, pushes for 'immediate' mayorship resignation

Senior PN sources have confirmed with MaltaToday, that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who is currently on holiday abroad has been informed of the latest developments concerning the beleaguered Sliema Mayor, while the party secretary general Paul Borg Olivier has conveyed the message to Dimech that his position was now “untenable.”

MaltaToday is reliably informed that Nikki Dimech phoned Borg Olivier soon after he left the Police HQ in Floriana yesterday evening  and informed him that he was interrogated, finger-printed and photographed.

Borg Olivier reportedly insisted with Dimech that he had ‘no choice’ but to immediately resign from the party, and invited him also to resign as mayor, since the party cannot interfere in official council business, given that Dimech was voted into the council by popular mandate.

While Dimech promised Borg Olivier over the phone yesterday night that he will resign from Mayorship and cut off all ties with the party, he has since not been forthcoming, leaving the PN guessing over what Dimech will do in the coming hours.

Senior party officials have told MaltaToday that “should Dimech not come forward with his resignation, then the party will announce his formal dismissal.” The PN announced the dismassal when Dimech did not resign from the party by noon.

Since last Night, Nikki Dimech has been untraceable, and had to appear this morning before the Internal Audit Investigations Department within the Prime Minister’s Office. He could not attend yesterday since he was under interrogation at the police headquarters but was expected to reply to the department’s questions today. This however, is a separate investigation.

THE CASE 

During his day-long interrogation by Inspector Angelo Gafa’ from the Economic Crimes Unit, Nikki Dimech reportedly broke down into tears and admitted he had asked for a commission over the salary of former council contracts manager Stephen Buhagiar.

Buhagiar claimed that he was sacked from his job post by Dimech after refusing to pay up, while he was left jobless since last March.

But police are also reportedly looking into other reports by contractors who have claimed to have been asked for commissions over council contracts.