Gozo Channel worker forged boatswain certificate
The issues flagged by a Gozo Channel captain about the company a few months ago have landed a former employee a suspended jail sentence for faking qualifications and will soon see the human resources manager being charged over the same issue. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A Gozo Channel employee was given a suspended sentence after admitting to forging a certificate for a promotion, two months after pleading not guilty.
Angelo Demanuele, 50, was handed down an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years after he was charged in January with trying to pass off a false EDH (efficient deck-hand) certificate as authentic to move up from security to boatswain.
The company's human resources manager, Joseph Angilleri, is also expected to be charged over the case.
Magistrate Edwina Grima took into consideration the fact that Mr Demanuele had cooperated with the police, had filed an early guilty plea and would be testifying against Mr Angilleri.
The case had been brought to light by Gozo Channel captain Mario Grech, who, last September, filed a judicial protest claiming major safety flaws revolving around life-saving equipment, emergency training, lack of qualifications of the boatswain and the presence of the potentially-deadly Legionella bacteria in the water supply of three ferries. The next day, Capt. Grech was told not to report for work.
The company rebutted the claims, saying the inquiry ordered by the government into Capt. Grech's allegations would find that the allegations were "absolutely unsubstantiated" and that its operations were fully compliant with the law and proper practices.
Mr Demanuele had told the police when interrogated that the company's human resources manager had helped him obtain the false certificate of competence. On the strength of this certificate, Mr Demanuele was promoted from security officer with Gozo Channel to boatswain last June on the recommendation of a board, which was told by Mr Angilleri that the candidate was in possession of an EDH certificate. The certificate would have proven that he had spent at least 12 months at sea, which is crucial for the position.
However, Capt. Grech queried Mr Demanuele's qualification and asked to see the certificate.
The boatswain approached his superior, Arthur Napier, and told him that he had lost the certificate and needed a new one. The prosecuting officer said Mr Napier spoke to Mr Angilleri who then issued another certificate, which was false.
On close examination, it resulted that the certificate's issue number - 51758 - belonged to that of another person.
Mr Demanuele had admitted during questioning he never sat for the exam and had not qualified for the EDH certificate.
Capt. Grech remains suspended on full pay, months after he filed the judicial protest. Soon after the protest was filed, Gozo Channel CEO Fritz Farrugia resigned, eight months into his term. He did not give a reason for his resignation but insisted it was not connected with the inquiry into Capt. Grech's allegations.
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charles philip zammit
Sep 22nd 2010, 14:42
so captain grech has been proved right.
M. J. Mallia
Apr 3rd 2010, 23:22
"The company rebutted the claims, saying the inquiry ordered by the government into Capt. Grech's allegations would find that the allegations were "absolutely unsubstantiated" and that its operations were fully compliant with the law and proper practices."
Let us hope that Gozo Channel will now eat their words and issue an official apology to Captain Grech. His bringing the matters to light are to be highly commended. Safety at sea should be given the utmost importance. There is no price you can put on life, and when one entrusts their life - especially at sea - in the hands of others, they do so assuming that such hands are competent and responsible ones.
david calleja
Apr 3rd 2010, 18:39
So we now have confirmation from the courts that Capt. Grech was right - and all his dectractors and ''superiors'' were wrong - i'm still optimistic enough to believe that right will triumph eventually - but in my heart of hearts - i know it won't - this is bananaland land, this is a country where nothing really makes sense anymore - God bless Capt Caruana, it's not much i know, but please believe that there actually are people here who are behind you and believe you from day one- if i were you, i'd sue the lot of them, and take my profession elsewhere - to a shipping line that actually cares...this lot certainly doesn't seem to.
S Debono
Apr 3rd 2010, 19:15
I wish to also thank Capt. Grech, but especially for exhibiting the strong will to set things right and not run away to another shipping line.
Joseph Said
Apr 3rd 2010, 17:35
So there is a competent and honest person in the midst of an arrogant lot and he is dismissed; doesn’t surprise me at all.
Charles Zammit
Apr 3rd 2010, 17:31
So Capt Grech's allegations were not "absolutely unsubstantiated" after all. Whoever suspended Capt. Grech should be made to answer for this irresponsible handling of the matter. Heads must roll if the company is to regain the public's confidence. We have had enough of this.
H galea
Apr 3rd 2010, 13:09
Are the passengers using the ferries going to support Capt Grech for saving their lives if it was needed!!!!How about the Ministers, is he/she going to remain silent!!!!
Daniel.Farrugia.Banks
Apr 3rd 2010, 11:41
As they say its not what you know in Malta and Gozo but whom you know regardless of any diplomas, i know many ex-pats who got thier visas and id's and passport and what not in no time at all, where as others has to wait many months and filling in all sorts of stupid bureaucracy before anything else.
A Mercieca
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:49
Everyone knows the high integrity Capt Grech holds. There was no doubts from the people who know him. Only the Chairman and the board of directors had. THEREFORE THEY SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:23
F'pajjizna hawn theddid qawwi ghad-demokrazija bhalissa, minhabba li l-istituzzjonijiet li suppost iwaqqfu l-abbuzi saru parti minnhom. Intefa d-dawl ta' l-gharfien u s-serjeta, u mhux dak elettriku biss. Ghad innebbahkom b'ghar minn dan
G.Pisani
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:14
It looks like all the Captain wanter was safety for his passengers.
Captain Grech should be running the Gozo Channel company, he has the experience and from the look of it he is very honest.
lgalea
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:12
Seeing the disaster all Malta is in, can we have an investigation into the Prime Minister's certificate to be a prime minister?
M.Gauci
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:25
Mr. Galea that has happened in every election for the last 22 years....the results speak for themselves who had irrelavent certificates.
People at pyrex houses should not cast stones.
Tony Gatt
Apr 3rd 2010, 12:14
It goes to prove anyone can be a prime minister but not everyone can be a boatswain!
Tony Gatt
Apr 3rd 2010, 09:58
So Captain Grech was right all along, as many writers to this paper believed. No Master is going to make wild allegations against his company-in fact it is his duty to report irregularities and non-compliance with anything regarding safety equipment etc. as non-compliance could make the ship unseaworthy and affect its insurance, besides endangering lives.
Capt. Grech should be returned to duty and be given compensation immediately.
lgalea
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:17
Not only should he be reinstated and paid all his wages and everything that he lost during his suspension including any promotions, but those who suspended should be made to pay him personally because they took the decision and it should not be the people through the Gozo Channel who have to make good for their arrogance and incompetence.
Tony Gatt
Apr 3rd 2010, 10:37
We can all dream but I doubt anything of the sort will happen. However, there may be a lawyer who would be willing to take up his case. Is there a union for officers in Malta as there is in the U.K.?