PN bought votes, Labour MP claims

A prominent Labour MP is alleging that the Nationalist Party "bought" hundreds of votes in last weekend's election, probably enough to tilt the election in its favour.

Anġlu Farrugia, Labour's spokesman for justice, said he had been informed that the Nationalists had bought several votes in the last few days of the election for up to €300 each.

Furthermore, several inmates at Corradino Correctional Facility were also coerced into voting for the PN, Dr Farrugia, a former police inspector, claimed.

"I'm working hard collecting all the evidence and information at the moment," he told The Sunday Times, saying that he was also prepared to relay the information to the police.

Dr Farrugia said he had been informed that a number of traditional Labour voters had been paid to hand over their voting document to a third party at a price.

He said he was in possession of names of individuals and clubs who were involved in the alleged racket.

"I'm convinced of this 100 per cent.... This is not democratic, it could have swayed the election in favour of the Nationalists," he protested, a week after Labour suffered its third successive electoral defeat.

But when contacted, PN general secretary Joe Saliba dismissed Dr Farrugia's claims as utterly irresponsible.

Evidently upset by the claim, Mr Saliba said: "Does he think that we are still living in the times when he was involved with the police force? I am quite sure that Dr Farrugia is in possession of no such evidence and if he is, then he should go to the Police Commissioner at once. We always hear such rumours on the eve of the election...."