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Luqa mayor signs blank cheque for roadworks
The case revealed last Sunday by sister paper 'Illum' that showed how the ex-Executive Secretary of the labour-led Luqa local council is under investigation by the Department of Local Councils over alleged fraud and breach of financial regulations, was carried with prominence by PN daily In-Nazzjon.
12 October 2010, 12:00am
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
1 min read
The case involves Luqa mayor John Schembri, whom 'Illum' revealed that he had signed a blank cheque for the sum of €4,720 in the name of the former council executive secretary Michael Borg for ‘patching’ work completed on roads in the locality.
The Luqa mayor says he trusted Borg blindly and issued the cheque without filling out the name of the person the cheque was made out to.
The cheque never reached the roadworks company and was allegedly deposited in Borg’s own account.
The investigation began when a Nationalist councilor requested a copy of the petty cash statement, which Borg refused him. Mayor John Schembri then informed the departments concerned.
Rachel Zammit Cutajar graduated in economics from the University of Malta...
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I believe Mayor Schembri learned his lesson not to trust blindly,the fact that it was himself who asked for an investigation goes to show that he was sincere in his endeavors.
The foul was committed by a subordinate and if it turns out that this person abused his position let him get what he deserves.
Unlike mayors from the other side he surely won't find anybody covering up for him.
Well done mayor Schembri. Looo Bondi tried to twist the case for his own ends when he asked Joseph Muscat about it on Bondi+ never mentioning that it was the mayor himself who instigated the investigation.
