Education Minister says Gozitan whistleblower story was a fabrication
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has denied allegations which appeared in an article published by The Times of Malta.
The article alleged that whistleblower (Joseph Cauchi) involved in the Anthony Debono (Giovanna Debono’s husband) case asked the minister to reinstate a Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools supervisor who was relieved of his duties following suspicions of corruption. It also alleged that the whistleblower received €500,000 in government contracts.
The minister said that the article was a complete lie from beginning to end.
He insisted that he never protected anyone, and would not do so now.
He was responding to a question by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, who asked whether it was true that Mr Cauchi had received €500,000 in government contracts since becoming a whistleblower.
Earlier, PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami also brought up the issue of Joseph Cauchi. “What steps are you taking against this alleged corruption?”
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici answered by saying: “I will not fall to provocation, especially by those who are the least persons to talk about good governance. Regarding the case, I hope you are not saying that the institutions did wrong by moving forward on a case regarding alleged corruption and public funds.”
Dr Fenech Adami then said that this man was given immunity, however the minister said that nobody in Parliament gave immunity to anyone. “The Whistleblower Act provides that any immunity is given by the Attorney General, who in this country is independent and impartial as guaranteed by the Constitution. “He is an official that nobody can remove from office, except by a 2/3rds parliamentary majority.” Minister Bonnici said that the AG was also aided by a judge in the superior courts in providing immunity to the person in question.
Jimmy Magro
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was also asked about Jimmy Magro. The commission against corruption’s report on Jimmy Magro said that it is morally convinced that in his capacity as a part-time special advisor to the Association of Local Councils, Mr Magro had requested payment whilst the tendering process for compost machinery was still open, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Councils Owen Bonnici had previously told Parliament during a ministerial statement. Mr Magro had served as general secretary of the Labour Party for 12 years until 2003.
The minister said in Parliament on Monday, that after the publication of the Commission against Corruption report regarding Jimmy Magro last week, an order was sent for him to be removed as Director of the Water Services Corporation after he was taken before the Public Service Commission, and he was removed.
The minister was responding to a Parliamentary Question posed by PN MP Mario de Marco.
As for his position with Malta Enterprise, the minister said that ME released a statement saying that Mr Magro was suspended from his duties, and as such he remains on half-wage until the procedure before the public service commission concludes. These, he said, are the steps which the law allows to be taken.
He also said that the police are investigating, and added that the Attorney General passed on the report to the Economic Crimes Unit.
A number of supplementary questions were asked, and the minister said that the Commission report had said that Mr Magro had requested EU funds, but not that he received them.
The minister was pressed by PN MPs, on whether the income which Mr Magro was receiving as an employee for a certain project, was requested to be returned by the EU, however he stressed that Mr Magro worked for an autonomous entity, adding that he will look into it.
As for whether the investigation will widen, the minister said that he does not believe a politician should become an investigator. He said that the Commission against Corruption conducted its investigation, and he expressed his faith that the police will do their job, and investigate everything. “Whoever broke the law must carry responsibility before the courts.”