Civil servant cleared of extortion

A civil servant at the Environment Ministry was yesterday acquitted of extorting money from two contractors after a magistrate pointed out several discrepancies in the contractors' testimony.

The version given by civil servant Vincent Cilia, who categorically denied all allegations made against him, was credible, consistent and corroborated by other witnesses, Magistrate Abigail Lofaro ruled.

On the other hand, the evidence given by contractors Carmelo Bonnici and his son Marco was laden with discrepancies.

For this reason the magistrate discarded their version of the events and cleared Cilia of extorting money from the Bonnici contractors on and before July 14, 2001.

Magistrate Lofaro heard how the two contractors had filed a report at the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry against Cilia on July 19, 2001, claiming he had asked them for money in exchange for work. The matter was referred to the police who started investigating and Inspector David Saliba called in the Bonnicis for questioning.

Carmelo Bonnici said Cilia had asked for payment several times before. He said that about three years earlier, while he was carrying out some works in Swatar, Cilia had asked him for money.

But, the magistrate noted, later on during his testimony Bonnici said that Cilia had only asked for money on one occasion. This was one of a string of "uncertainties" in Carmelo Bonnici's testimony. Moreover, it was strange that Carmelo Bonnici had not filed a police report earlier.

In his testimony, Marco Bonnici had explained that on July 14, 2001 Cilia approached him and told him he wanted money in exchange for work.

At the time there was the need for urgent works to be carried out in Qawra where a main sewage pipe had sprung a leak resulting in drainage flowing along the road and down to the sea. Due to the urgency of the matter a direct order had to be issued.

Marco Bonnici said that although he had all the necessary equipment and capabilities Cilia did not award the contract to him because he was being bribed by another contractor. He added that Cilia told him that if he did not give him money he would no longer assign work to him.

However, among other things, the magistrate noted that it had been proven that Cilia was not responsible for issuing direct orders and it did not make sense that a person asked for money in exchange for something he could not do.

As opposed to the Bonnicis' testimony, the magistrate said Cilia always maintained that he never demanded money from anyone and, apart from being consistent, his version of the events was corroborated.

Police Inspector David Saliba prosecuted.

Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta appeared for Cilia and Dr Anglu Farrugia appeared in parte civile.