Judge to chair Lands Authority: ‘This makes it an extension of PM’s influence’ – Callus
The reported appointment of retired judge Lino Farrugia Sacco as chairman of the Lands Authority would make the authority just an extension of the Prime Minister’s influence, Nationalist MP Ryan Callus said yesterday.
He was replying to a question on a report in the Times of Malta saying that the judge, who escaped impeachment due to his retirement from the Bench, will later this week be named as the chairman of the authority, to be set up following the Gaffarena scandal.
Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon resigned in the wake of controversy which followed the transfer of property in Valletta to the businessman, and the new authority was planned to regulate such transfers.
Mr Callus argued yesterday that if Judge Farrugia Sacco heads the authority, it will just be an extension of the Prime Minister’s influence.
“This shows that this authority will not change anything. The government set it up with the excuse that it wanted to avoid new cases of corruption – when the real serious cases happened under its watch from 2013 onwards – but the authority will not be independent. It will be an extension of the OPM.”
Judge Farrugia Sacco was twice recommended for impeachment by the Commission for the Administration of Justice for breaching the judiciary’s code of ethics. The first was made by former PM Lawrence Gonzi before the 2013 election, but it remained pending. A second recommendation was made by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in 2014 but court proceedings instituted by the judge prolonged the issue, with the result that he reached retirement age before the motion was discussed.
The Times also reports that former PL candidate Carlo Mifsud has also been appointed as the new CEO of the authority by PS Deborah Schembri.
“Is it possible that there is no one with the necessary qualifications and experience at the Lands Department who merits the job?” Mr Callus asked.
Contacted by Malta Today, Dr Farrugia Sacco did not confirm or deny his appointment, saying only that he didn’t feel he should be the one to comment.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for Deborah Schembri told the newspaper that a press briefing will be held tomorrow, during which all board members will be announced.