MMA deems comments in Parliament 'unfounded'

The allegations made by Labour MP Joe Mizzi against Malta Maritime Authority employees are unfounded, the MMA said, referring to police investigations.

The Malta Maritime Authority issued a statement yesterday saying it had been informed by the police that the investigations had been completed.

"Contrary to what Mr Mizzi alleged in Parliament, it did not result that the shredded papers pertained to nautical licences," it said.

"In the light of these findings, the authority invites Mr Mizzi to publicly declare the evidence upon which he was basing the allegations he made in Parliament on this matter.

"The authority hopes Mr Mizzi will not have to wait for Parliament to reconvene in September for him to make public this evidence," it concluded.

Last month, Communications Minister Censu Galea had requested the Permanent Commission Against Corruption to investigate a speech made by Mr Mizzi in Parliament.

Mr Mizzi made a number of allegations about MMA employees in connection with police investigations into the granting of nautical driving licences by the MMA.

He had alleged that important documents and files connected to such licences had been shredded and disposed of by two MMA employees.