Voice of the Mediterranean purchases/procurements

I write on behalf of Richard Muscat, former managing director of Voice of the Mediterranean (VOM).

In an article penned by Joe Vella Bonnici, entitled Gonzi vs Gonzi (July 24), the author stated that "Dr Gonzi's worst political gaffe in controlling corruption perhaps was the way his government handled accusations made by the Auditor General on the financial embezzlements that had taken place at the Voice of the Mediterranean" and subsequently refers to Mr Muscat by name.

The Auditor General never made any such accusations; these so-called "accusations of financial embezzlements" are only a figment of Mr Vella Bonnici's imagination. The comments of the Auditor General were in the sense that the financial regulations were not observed in purchases/ procurements made by the VOM. These comments by the Auditor General were investigated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). During the proceedings of the PAC, it resulted, after advice was tendered both by the Attorney General and the legal adviser of the Auditor General himself, that the financial regulations did not apply to the VOM and, hence, the comments of the Auditor General were without any foundation.

Libel action has been instituted against Mr Vella Bonnici regarding this unfounded allegation.

Editor's note: The Times disassociates itself from the contents of Mr Vella Bonnici's comments. From investigations carried out, it results that the Auditor General reported that the financial regulations were not observed at VOM but did not report or make accusations of embezzlement. The Times regrets any inconvenience caused to Mr Muscat as a result of Mr Vella Bonnici's article.