Charity does not need dirty money - prosecution

Charity organisations may be in need but they definitely could do without dirty money given to them by two Malta Transport Authority driving examiners who have admitted accepting bribes, a police inspector said in court yesterday.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafà was making his submissions to Magistrate Miriam Hayman with regard to punishment in the case against Jason Buttigieg, 33, of Birkirkara and Roderick Galea, 30, of Marsascala who have pleaded guilty to accepting bribes on and before May.

In a previous sitting last month the two men said they would be donating the money, which they obtained through bribery, to charity.

Inspector Gafà said that while he was sure the magistrate would not be swayed by such a statement, "irrespective of how big their needs are, charity organisations do not want dirty money".

The officer noted that the men had admitted to "very serious offences" that cast a bad light on government institutions. The guilty plea filed by the accused impeded the prosecution from summoning important witnesses that would have given an exact picture of the situation, the prosecuting officer said.

Lawyer Kris Busietta, for the accused, objected to the inspector's last statement as being "below the belt". The law, he said, allowed the prosecution to summon any witnesses it deemed relevant, even after a guilty plea was filed.

Dr Busietta said his clients had a right to file a guilty plea and had fully cooperated with the police. In fact, they were even willing to give evidence against any others involved in the bribery.

Having said that, he reminded the court that his clients had admitted to accepting money to do their job and they never passed any undeserving applicants.

His clients were facing a jail term ranging from six months to three years. Given that they were first-time offenders, the lawyer called on the court to put them on probation - as had been done in other similar cases.