Criminal action may be taken over alleged Luqa council fraud
Former executive secretary denies pocketing money
The findings of an investigation into claims of misappropriation of public funds at the Luqa council were yesterday passed on to the Attorney General for possible criminal action. The investigation was carried out by the Internal Audit and Investigation Department within the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sources close to the Labour-led council confirmed that the investigation looked into allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of public funds, running into thousands of euro.
The target of the investigation was the council’s former executive secretary, who stepped down earlier this year after reaching pensionable age. The alleged mimanagement and misappropriation of public funds dates back to 2007.
The investigation found discrepancies in the receipts for payments which were covered by the council’s petty cash.
There were also discrepancies in other council receipts and in cash paid by the council for certain services rendered but which were not covered by receipts.
Sources said that when he was questioned by investigators from the Internal Audit and Investigations Department, the former executive secretary denied pocketing any money and said the cash involved was used to cover expenses incurred by members of the local council.
The Internal Audit and Investigations Department started investigating the council after the Department of Local Government found enough prima facie evidence for the matter to be investigated further.
When contacted late yesterday, the Director of Local Government, Martin Bugelli confirmed that the report had been finalised and had been passed on to Attorney General Silvio Camilleri for further action, possibly criminal.
“The initial findings of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department were serious enough for the possibility of criminal action to be considered so the report was referred to the Attorney General for possible further action,” he said when asked.
The Internal Audit and Investigations Department is currently also investigating the Sliema local council over the extension of a tender way beyond the amount the council could legally authorise without issuing another call for tenders.
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R.Lewis
Aug 6th 2010, 19:33
Mr Govt. Just scrap all the local councils. Its waste of money. Most of the news items this week were concerning corruption in the local councils. The govt should build another Law Courts at the Old Opera House site instead of an open air theater, to be able to deal with this lot concerning corruption. Honest people are now fed up, we need a break and proper action.
Joseph Agius
Aug 6th 2010, 17:29
Is there any Local Council which is NOT being investigated? Seems all councils have had fingers in the pie...am I missin something? what's wrong? Councils, culture, people, weather?....
Mark Mallia
Aug 6th 2010, 15:14
Fools SLiema LC which is PN led is under investigation, the Luqa LC which is MLP led, is now also under investigation. This council never did anything for the luqa residents except showing the whole wide world that we have an obscene monument which is world known thanks to a goofing mayor and his council. They should all resign for allowing such a messy object to be placed at Luqa making Luqa residents the laughing stock of the whole wide world. But I believe that is what Luqa resident deserve. They voted for them.
A Borg
Aug 6th 2010, 15:37
@M Mallia
I Guess that you have not read about the huge work that is going to be held in Luqa which started this week at Luqa Square. Moreover I suggest that you read the article another time because contrary to the PN led councils of Sliema and Santa Venera, in this case, it is not the Mayor that is being investigated but the executive secretary i.e. a civil servant.
Quote "The target of the investigation was the council’s former executive secretary"
Sometimes sour grapes makes you go blind
Victor Laiviera
Aug 6th 2010, 14:28
The above article specifies that the council is a Labour council.
In a broadly similar article in The Times online regarding the Sta Venera Local Council, nowhere is it mentioned that this council is led by the PN.
Two weights and two measures?
M.A.Vella
Aug 6th 2010, 16:20
Read the Sta Venera article better..... It is mentioned :)
Victor Laiviera
Aug 7th 2010, 10:47
Mr Vella, you can be sure that I read an article very, very carefully before I comment. The fact that the council is PN led was not mentioned when the article was first published. It was added in a later update
Joseph Dimech
Aug 6th 2010, 10:19
The Luqa council is Labour-led. What about the Sliema council? Is it Labour-led too? It's not mentioned in the report.
R.Borg
Aug 6th 2010, 10:03
All those who are involved in these criminal investigations have our support.
Let us clean our din l-art helwa.