Fiona Galea Debono
MUSEUM financial administrator cleared of misappropriation
A man who loaned an acquaintance over €1 million from MUSEUM society money has been cleared of charges relating to misappropriating funds.
The society's financial administrator, Manueli Catania, 65, from Naxxar, was charged after loaning Kevin Zammit money on seven occasions over a period of five years.
The case came to the attention of the police when it was noticed that substantial amounts of money were moving between the accounts of the MUSEUM and the Preca Library. At the time, they were investigating Mr Zammit's transactions.
However, the Magistrates' Court cleared Mr Catania of the charges after it found he was not attempting to gain from the transactions. On the contrary, he was seeking to earn more money for the MUSEUM since he was charging Mr Zammit a higher rate of interest than that offered by the banks.
Mr Zammit had initially requested €135,000 and Mr Catania had got the blessing of the MUSEUM society's director, Joseph Abdilla, to lend him the money.
When the requests kept coming, the director and its executive committee decided to put a stop to the loans. However, Mr Catania continued to lend money to Mr Zammit.
In a hearing on November 21, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said Mr Catania immediately co-operated with the police and had instantly admitted his mistake when he continued lending the money despite the committee's decision not to.
Mr Abdilla said he did not know that the global sum had amounted to over €1 million, but, following police investigations, a contract was signed between the MUSEUM and Mr Zammit establishing how much he owed as well as a repayment schedule.
The court also heard that in the 35 years he formed part of the MUSEUM society and the 10 years as its administrator, Mr Catania had deposited almost all his own money - an estimated €326,000 - in its accounts and in those of the Preca Library, which he had created from scratch.
Moreover, Mr Catania had generated substantial amounts of money, which were poured into the MUSEUM society for its various projects. He would also insist that the money owed to him from his work as a property middleman be donated to the MUSEUM, and in his will left everything to the society.
One of the Preca Library accounts was made up of Mr Catania's own money, which he considered to be the MUSEUM's and which he passed on to it.
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7 Comments
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Thomas Sammut
Dec 1st 2008, 11:50
Eric Soames: I am just pointing out that the article states that Mr Catania was charging more interest than that offered by the banks, not more interest than that requested by the banks. I take this to mean that he was earning more money by lending it to Mr Zammit than by leaving it in the bank and earning interest. The article does not state that Mr Catania was charging a higher interest rate than the bank would have charged on a loan.
Joseph Camilleri
Dec 1st 2008, 01:43
It was good and expected news that Sup. Leli Catania of Naxxar would be cleared of charges relating to misappropriating MUSEUM society funds. I have known Sup. Leli to be a hard working and loyal MUSEUM society member who always put MUSEUM society interests first and his last.
This court case reveals that despite all good intentions everyone is subject to mistakes in life but also that there is no diminishing of one's integrity because of these mistakes!
Randolph Peresso
Nov 30th 2008, 23:19
Even I stand-up, and vouch for Mr. Catania's integrity, generosity, sense of obedience and absolute dedication for MUSEUM.
I'm glad that the article revealed the generosity of these men and women to the benefit of a good part of the Maltese children and youth. They are one of the foundation stones of Maltese society. Those who had the opportunity to benefit from MUSEUM, know what I'm saying.
Eric Soames
Nov 30th 2008, 22:24
Frans Sammut: With all due respect, sir, you do not know my background, religion, life experience or education for that matter. Fair comment is fair comment and not being in the swirl of things did not stop a bunch of commentators spouting off, about the US elections for example, in this medium. I made no comment about the rectitude or legality or otherwise of this case. I merely made an observation on the facts as presented. That's life in the spotlight, I'm afraid.
Frans Sammut
Nov 30th 2008, 18:26
I don't see the point of Mr Soames' entering into the merits of this case. I do not expect him to understand the social context in which such transactions take place. Like Mr Colombo I would readily vouch for the personal integrity of Mr Catania whom I knew as a colleague in the Education Department. I would equally vouch for the philanthropic aims of his society which has rendered outstanding service to the Maltese public in the fields of religious instructions and the promotion of the Maltese language. Now I may not be one of the more religious people around but I have known the society and what it stands for and cannot see why it should become the target of foreigners who are not sufficiently acquainted with the local social context. Besides, the story above explains quite a lot of that background and there is really no need for me to enter into more details. I reckon foreigners should go by the sentence given by the court of law and no further. If Mr Soames may not expected to understand the socio-religious background he is definitely expected to understand the rule of law.
Christian Colombo
Nov 30th 2008, 12:03
I have known Mr Catania for quite a while...all I can say is that he is one of the most generous and selfless people that I have ever known!
Eric Soames
Nov 30th 2008, 11:32
'... since he was charging Mr Zammit a higher rate of interest than that offered by the banks.'
Not very Biblical. I wonder, was Caesar rendered unto?