Allegations about Gozo Channel made by Capt. Mario Grech were untrue and may have been made because the captain was not chosen to be the company’s chief executive officer, the Finance Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry referred to Capt. Grech’s judicial protest filed after a board of inquiry appointed by the ministry to investigate the allegations concluded they were not true.

The ministry said it had not yet been formally notified of the protest and it would be filing its formal reply in due time.

However, since the captain’s protest was public, it felt it should publicly issue a reply.

Capt. Grech, the ministry said, continued to bend facts and his attack on the board members was unjustified, since all had major experience in their sectors. Two even had substantial experience in the maritime sector.

Col. Emm. Mallia, the ministry said, was responsible for the Armed Forces air and maritime operations and had a post-graduate diploma in maritime law. He was also a qualified instructor in maritime search and rescue.

Captain Ghassan Abdullah was a master mariner Class 1 and a lecturer at the Maritime Institute.

The ministry said it was significant that Capt. Grech was making insinuations now that the board had issued their report when he did not say he had any problems with the board during the investigations.

The captain, it said, was going to be suspended after he made a number of allegations on matters in which he breached confidentiality. But since some of the allegations related to security, it was felt that the suspension was out of place and Capt. Grech was put off roster as an administrative measure.

It was not clear why Capt. Grech was persisting with his campaign, the ministry said.

However, since his allegations were unfounded, it felt should make public the fact that while he was accusing a board member of a conflict of interest, it was Capt. Grech who was a candidate for the position of CEO but was not selected.