'A complete fabrication,' says minister on claims that Gozo whistleblower was 'rewarded'

Education minister Evarist Bartolo has said that there is no truth to a story which appeared yesterday in the Sunday Times of Malta. The story alleged that Joseph Cauchi, a Gozitan contractor and whistleblower, has received up to €500,000 in government contracts.

“It is a complete fabrication. The so-called journalist did not bother checking his facts. We will be denying it officially,” said Bartolo.

He was replying to a parliamentary question by Beppe Fenech Adami, who asked justice minister Owen Bonnici what steps had been taken regarding allegations that the contractor had been awarded government jobs in return for him acting as whistle-blower in the case against the husband of former minister Giovanna Debono. He is accused of using public funds to carry out works in private residences.

In his reply, Bonnici said that he hoped Fenech Adami was not implying that “institutions did badly in moving forward with the case,” and pointed out that politicians do not have the power to grant immunity.

“The law that we introduced provides for any immunity to be given by the Attorney General (AG), who enjoys independence and impartiality,” said Bonnici, who stressed that if the AG saw fit to grant an individual immunity, he had not right to object.

MP George Pullicino however, speaking later, challenged Bartolo to check his emails well.

“Check you emails well, specifically, your Hotmail account,” said Pullicino. “I will lead you on a bit further, check emails received between the 11 and 15 of May from a Mr Joe Cauchi”

Pullicino said that he would not mention anything else for the time being, adding that there was a lot more that he could say. “I will do my duty not only towards my constituents, but to this parliament, and I will keep speaking up on cases of abuse of public funds,” he said.

Pullicino stressed that even if one assumes that the Bartolo has the best of intentions, the way he has tackled issues of alleged corruption leaves much to be desired. 

Jimmy Magro dismissed from Water Services Corporation

In the same exchange, Bonnici was also asked to clarify, what disciplinary steps had been taken against former Labour Party secretary-general Jimmy Magro.  Last week, Bonnici revealed that the Permanent Commission against Corruption had concluded that Magro had asked for money during a tendering process related to waste, and that disciplinary steps were being taken against Magro.

“Mr Magro is a director on the Water Services board and according to the information I have is that he was to be removed the next day. I am also informed that he was suspended from his duties at Malta Enterprise, with immediate effect,” he said. Magro’s removal from the Water Services Corporation was confirmed by Konrad Mizzi as he entered the chamber moments later.

The minister also stressed that commission’s report had been passed on to the police, who were carrying out their own investigation.

Asked by opposition whip David Agius, whether any further investigation should take place to determine whether there were other instances of corruption, Bonnici said that it is not the minister’s role to investigate corruption.

“The commission has done its job, ministers are not meant to investigators. The role of politicians is to ensure that those doing the investigating, have the necessary tools to do so,” he said, stressing once again that he passed the commission’s report on to the police.  

He pointed to the introduction of the whistle-blower act, as well as the removal of prescription for politician’s, as proof of the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.