ADT case

I write on behalf of the Malta Transport Authority to place on record certain facts in connection with the matter reported in The Times of Saturday, June 2, which carried a summary of the judicial protest filed by Angelo Debono against Minister Censu Galea.

Mr Debono had appealed against a decision of the Disciplinary Board of the ADT as a consequence of which his employment had been terminated. In April 2005, the Appeals Board had found in his favour on an issue relating to fair hearing and ordered that the case be heard again by the Disciplinary Board. Mr Debono did not wish the Disciplinary Board to hear the case again and first took out an injunction preventing it from hearing the case and then filed a civil case for confirmation of the assertions made by him in his application for the injunction. The Civil Court commenced hearing the case on December 12, 2005. The ADT has not yet started presenting its evidence as Mr Debono is still in the process of presenting his evidence.

In brief, Mr Debono is contending that the Appeals Board exceeded its authority when it sent the original disciplinary matter back to the Disciplinary Board, whereas the ADT contends that the Appeals Board acted within its authority. There is no claim for damages in Mr Debono's writ of summons but simply a request that the Civil Court declares that the Appeals Board acted ultra vires.

As the matter is sub judice, it would be inappropriate to make further comments at this stage, save to state that the above is all a matter of public record in that it is contained in the relative court dossier.