Private investigator's reports 'were a hoax'

A private investigator, commissioned by a company bidding for the Mater Dei Hospital contract to investigate alleged irregularities in the allocation of a tender, never imagined that reports he had compiled would end up in the hands of the Prime Minister, a court heard yesterday.

Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Cachia told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti that during questioning, Joseph Zahra explained he did not want to reveal the sources behind the information he submitted in the reports.

Mr Cachia added that Zahra said the reports were a hoax because he wanted to protect his sources, who were in his same line of work, and added that there was a time when he (Zahra) wanted to tell the Prime Minister it was all a hoax but did not have the courage to.

The senior police officer was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Zahra, 50, of Marsascala, who is pleading not guilty to filing a police report against people he knew to be innocent and spreading false news that could alarm the public.

Mr Cachia explained how some time last July the Police Commissioner had handed him a copy of a report compiled by Zahra as part of his investigations into alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Mater Dei Hospital tender.

He learnt that the report had been handed to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi by Joe Fenech, the lawyer who was representing Simed - one of the bidders for the hospital tender.

Mr Cachia explained that the report contained inconsistencies such as phone calls and meetings dated before Zahra was commissioned to the case.

During questioning Zahra initially chose not to respond to questions put to him but later explained how the situation had spiralled out of his control as his clients pressured him for more information. That was when he had compiled the second report.

The case continues.