Christian Peregin
Sliema mayor accuses Borg Olivier of frame-up
Nikki Dimech will only resign if PM tells him to
Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech yesterday said he would only resign if the Prime Minister told him to do so, while at the same time insisting that Nationalist Party general secretary Paul Borg Olivier should step down after “mishandling” the affair.
Speaking for the first time since signing a police confession relating to charges of bribery, Mr Dimech told The Sunday Times he was innocent and only made the admission because he had been through “mental torture”.
The 31-year-old claimed he was forced by police to make a false statement after being told his political career was over.
“The police inspector told me that if I didn’t admit to the false allegation he would make a show of me in front of the press,” Mr Dimech said.
He said the police kept him in a cell between questioning and did not give him his asthma inhaler even though he asked for it after suffering a panic attack.
During the course of questioning Mr Dimech made two statements: one saying he dismissed the contractor’s offer of commission and another three hours later where he said he did in fact request payment.
Contrary to his party’s demands, Mr Dimech insisted he does not wish to resign because doing so would seem like an admission of guilt when he had done nothing wrong.
However, he said he would resign if Lawrence Gonzi asked him to do so. Despite being booted out of the party by the PN general secretary, Mr Dimech is still serving as an independent mayor.
Mr Dimech accused Dr Borg Olivier of “framing” him to get him out of the way before the next general election and describes as dishonourable and disrespectful Dr Borg Olivier’s decision to “force” another Nationalist councillor, Sandra Camilleri, to sign a motion of no confidence in the mayor.
The motion was drawn up after Mr Dimech refused to resign as mayor despite having been kicked out of the PN by Dr Borg Olivier last week.
In a reaction last night, a PN spokesman dismissed the mayor’s claims that the party broke its own rules when deciding on Mr Dimech’s fate, since he had missed a meeting which would have given him the chance to explain his position.
The spokesman added that the contents of Mr Dimech’s police admission were made known to the party by the mayor himself who informed Dr Borg Olivier he was going to be summoned to police headquarters.
“Dr Borg Olivier made no contact with the police on Mr Dimech’s interrogation.”
The party also denied that the PN general secretary was heavy-handed with Ms Camilleri or that the dismissal of Mr Dimech was motivated by Dr Borg Olivier’s interest in the 10th district.
“Dr Borg Olivier has declared his position more than once that he will not be a candidate (in) the general election as long as he remains general secretary.”
The police did not reply to questions about Mr Dimech’s interrogation by the time of going to print.
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Claire Busuttil
Aug 22nd 2010, 23:07
ovvjament hadd ma jista jighd sew, x gara u x ma garax, pero jekk veru dak li qed jighd dan il guvni, hu minnu.........il partit nazzjonalista veru wasal fil qiegh...u ghandu biss ghalfejn jisthi!!
kenneth camilleri
Aug 22nd 2010, 22:34
I fail to understand why a dallas saga is being made of such an issue. Mr Dimech, did you or did you not accept bribes? Issuing a statement on the paper saying "OK, but impossible" referring to your answer when mr.buhagiar offered a commision on the sunday times interview is extremely inapropriate and a definite blunder for a mayor. If Dr.Borg Olivier is capitalising on your mistake is another issue. If you fail to understand that a person in your position has to be clear and transparent than you are not fit for politics. Your defiant tactics as your answer "OK, but impossible" could work in normal day to day transactions where you have no position no authority and no responsibility. All values which constitute the position of a mayor.
Andrew B. Gatt
Aug 22nd 2010, 21:02
No difference at all to day between PL and PN.
Both parties do not have a SECRETARY GENERAL !!!!!!!!
James Grech
Aug 22nd 2010, 20:19
If I was Mr Dimech I would never have signed a false statement not even if I was physically tortured...Moreover good to know that we all have the right to silence, so I would have refused to comment at all and would not be afraid to be taken to a cell for the 48 hours...if I m right I fight for it! At this point I think its useless to give the correct statement to newspapers...
J.pace
Aug 23rd 2010, 08:59
quote - "He said the police kept him in a cell between questioning and did not give him his asthma inhaler even though he asked for it after suffering a panic attack."
What would you do in this case? Finish in hospital or sign what ever will get you out as quickly as possible to take your inhaler?
Maybe you are a super human over the average and like to resist to pain, not everyone can do this!
Hope the truth will surface and the real guilty will than resign. If PBO is found to be the culprit behind this story, he should resign! This story smells a bit fishy and PBO is taking it very personally, and is making a big show and fuss, maybe he is really trying to prepare his propaganda for the next general election at Sliema.
It is better that the PN club start worrying about the New Power station and the EU.
Jaycee Sullivan
Aug 22nd 2010, 19:46
Whether these allegations are true or not I personally don't care but, it seems that every little thing that happens in Malta is blamed on the gov't., be it St. Philips Hospital, the Powerstation, alleged corruption within the Local Councils and yes, even the bidding at the Mgarr feast has been attributed to the gov't. YET, the Maltese electorate will not give other parties an opportunity to form a gov't. They're sticking to a two-party system which does NOT work. As Lord Acton said. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Which also reminds me of a quote by a British PM a politician himself, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it".
R.Borg
Aug 22nd 2010, 17:07
The Parliamentary Secretary for Local Counsils should commission a Magisterial Investigation on this obscure case. The Nation not only Sliema Residents has a right to know the truth.
J Brincat
Aug 22nd 2010, 17:03
Nowhere did Mr Dimech state that Dr P Birg Olivier was contesting the general elections. What he said was that Dr Borg Olivier wanted him out of the way and this is different!.
Eric Psaila
Aug 22nd 2010, 16:15
Nice try PN. You are feeling the heath with respect to the power station contract and you are doing everything in your power to divert the attention of the electorate away from this very important issue.
Why cares whether Borg Olivier of Dimech get elected to parliament.
What is important is to tackle important issues and the countries finances in a fair and transparent way and not this political bickering.
MARGARET RICHARDS
Aug 22nd 2010, 15:41
The right of freedom of media and freedom of expression are undoubtedly being exploited to the max in the every day blogs. As gc Forte wisely stated, that Maltese people litterally live politics - i would add party politics. They do not decipher between party politics and government policies.I believe that in Malta people vote according to their heart & not their brains.There are still people who state that 'they are pn/pl from birth, & will remain so". This could mean 2 things, either that they live according to a principle or are afraid of any type change.People vote candidates as they either know their nickname or they know them personally, or vote upwards to downwards in alphabetical order, which gives rise to incompetent parliamentarians/councillors.These voters are normally blinded by 'the partit li se jirbah", without realising that these candidates will be the people representing them in parliament/local councils, the people who will be drawing up not party politics (although they do have to toe the party line), but government policies. So not to continue witnessing such a great number of arguments re resignations I suggest more education for people when voting.
Maria Vella
Aug 22nd 2010, 14:41
This is a story that smells dirty from miles away. Only those who have a direct say in it will ever know the complete truth. We out here have to use our common sense to judge for ourselves. It is simply political dirt of which we have had more than enough. Please give us a break. We deserve better than all you lot. We should not have put you there.At the end of the day you depend on us. We are here to stay but you lot have to come begging to us for your positions. Guess if you will get them now.
l fenech
Aug 22nd 2010, 12:24
Is this the pan callling the kettle black?
M. Camilleri
Aug 22nd 2010, 12:13
If Mr. Dimech was forced through "mental torture" to sign the admission of a crime, then he should accuse the police of a frame-up and not Dr. Borg Olivier. Mr. Borg Olivier must have acted on information he had or has in his possession. I am sure he is not naive and I am sure he would not ask any councillor to resign if he had not any solid confirmation and information. One wonders what the apologist in favour of Mr. Dimech would have said if the PN did not take any action after an admittance by one of its councillors of taking or recieving a commission for a contract.
G.Abela
Aug 22nd 2010, 11:50
@Mr.Dimech
Quote "Mr Dimech accused Dr Borg Olivier of “framing” him to get him out of the way before the next general election" unquote.
Could you please elaborate cause in my opinion this is a very serious accusation which leads one to think that there is more to this saga.!!
R. Caruana
Aug 22nd 2010, 15:44
As General Secretary of the PN Dr Borg Olivier cannot contest a general election and Sliema Mayor should know this very well.
If there's any frame-up it's the police he should be pointing his finger at.
K Tanti
Aug 22nd 2010, 17:00
@ R Caruana
Why Dr Borg Olivier cannot contest the general election?
If I'm not mistaken Dr Gonzi contested the 1996 election while he was general secretary. Correct me if I am wrong