Charges on boatswain's 'forged' certificate

The police will be charging a person over allegations that a Gozo Channel boatswain was in possession of a forged certificate.

Another person "may be charged in due course", a police spokesman said yesterday.

The police are investigating claims made by ship master Mario Grech that a boatswain had admitted he had not sat for any examinations and did not have the necessary qualifications.

Yet, he was in possession of what Capt. Grech suspected to be a forged certificate that carried the signature of the head of the company's human resources department.

Capt. Grech was suspended on full pay a day after he filed a judicial protest on September 24 alleging serious safety shortcomings revolving around the lifesaving equipment, emergency training, the boatswain's lack of qualifications and the presence of the potentially-deadly Legionella bacteria in the water supply of three Gozo ferries.

Gozo Channel vehemently denied the allegations and, in a counter protest, insisted the claims were unfounded. It said Capt. Grech had been chief operating officer until he resigned last December and was therefore responsible for many of the safety measures he had mentioned in his judicial protest.

Although Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who is responsible for Gozo Channel, asked the company to suspend all disciplinary action until a specially-appointed board concluded its inquiry, Capt. Grech is still not on the active duty roster, five weeks after he made the allegations.

A few days ago, Gozo Channel CEO Fritz Farrugia resigned, just eight months into his term. Although he did not give a reason for his resignation, he insisted it was not connected with the inquiry ordered by the government into Capt. Grech's allegations.

A spokesman for the Finance Ministry would not say what stage the inquiry had reached and when it was expected to be completed. "The investigation is ongoing and there is nothing to add from our side at this stage," he said.