Manager claimed he was asked for 10% commission - Police
Mayor said it was manager who asked for commission
Former Sliema Mayor Nikki Dimech leaving the law courts this morning. Video: Alan Adami
The former contracts manager of Sliema local council had told the police that then mayor Nikki Dimech requested a commission of between five and 10 per cent of his monthly salary before his appointment, Police Inspector Angelo Gafa' told a court this morning.
However, Mr Dimech later claimed that it was the contracts manager who actually offered the commission.
Giving evidence in the case instituted by the police against Mr Dimech, the inspector said the police got to know of the case on June 14 when Martin Bugelli, director of local government, sent an e-mail to the police commissioner telling him that during a meeting with Stehen Buhagiar, the former contracts manager, it was alleged that Mr Dimech had asked for a commission.
Inspector Gafa said the police had learnt that the council had issued a call for tenders for a contracts manager and Mr Buhagiar was one of four bidders. His was the cheapest bid and he was chosen. But before he was appointed, Mr Dimech asked to see him and asked for a commission of between five and 10 per cent of his monthly salary.
Mr Buhagiar told the police that he was 'shocked and surprised' by the request and refused.
Mr Dimech never mentioned the matter again and Mr Buhagiar was awarded the contract anyway, with a probation period of six months.
Mr Buhagiar had claimed to the police that when his probation period was about to expire, a council meeting was held and his contract was then terminated with six votes in favour of termination, while the other members abstained.
Mr Dimech was not present for that meeting.
Mr Buhagiar had then written to Mr Bugelli complaining that his dismissal was unfair.
Inspector Gafa said that, in terms of the contract, Mr Buhagiar was paid €1,200 a month. The contract was meant to last three years.
Inspector Gafa' said the police first interrogated Mr Buhagiar and then questioned Mr Dimech on August 15.
Initially, Mr Dimech verbally admitted to having requested a commission but this was not recorded in any way. When the police asked Mr Dimech to draw up a written statement, he claimed that it was Mr Buhagiar who offered him the commission.
The inspector said he then held a confrontation between the two and Mr Dimech continued to deny that he had requested a commission.
Mr Dimech told the police that the council had received many complaints about Mr Buhagiar. At one time Mr Buhagiar, accompanied by MP Robert Arrigo called on Mr Dimech, asking him not to terminate the contract. Mr Arrigo at one time even shouted at councillor Yves Cali' and the matter ended up at party level.
In a second statement to the police, Mr Dimech admitted he asked for a commission but never received the money, Inspector Gafa' said.
When questioned by the police about why he had sought a commission, Mr Dimech had claimed that Mr Arrigo had asked for his people to be favoured by the council.
When asked if there was another reason, he did not reply.
Later, when they started chatting, Mr Dimech had, verbally, said that he had a drug problem and needed between €4,500 and €5,000 every month, Inspector Gafa said. When he was asked what drug he took, Mr Dimech did not reply but held his nose and sniffed.
Inspector Gafa said that Superintendent Paul Vassallo occasionally dropped in during the interrogation and asked Mr Dimech whether he needed anything, but he said he did not.
Referring to media interviews given by Mr Dimech on the validity of the second statement, Inspector Gafa denied that the statement was given under duress.
As to whether Mr Dimech was allowed to contact his lawyer, Inspector Gafa said the first lawyer who Mr Dimech asked for could not be reached because he was abroad. A second lawyer offered to call at police headquarters instead, but Mr Dimech refused.
Eventually, Mr Dimech was able to phone his preferred lawyer and spoke to him for 15 minutes.
At no time, Inspector Gafa said, did Mr Dimech have a panic attack as reported in a section of the press. He was actually relatively calm. An escorting sergeant had carried inhaler and pills. Mr Dimech was asked if he needed the inhaler, and he said he did not. He also said he did not need anything else.
The allegations made by Mr Dimech in the media were false, Inspector Gafa said.
After the media reports, Mr Dimech was questioned by the police again, Inspector Gafa said.
This time he said that it was his first statement which was correct, where it was said that Mr Buhagiar offered him the commission.
He denied, in writing, that he was mistreated by the police and when questioned as to his reference to duress, he explained that he had been suffering psychological shock.
Inspector Gafa said, that Mr Dimech had also said that he had previously spent 28 hours at police headquarters in the year 2000 when he was investigated on a friend's overdose. However, in contrast to his previous comments, he denied that he now had a drug problem, although he did so in the past.
He also told the police that he had not used his inhaler because he did not trust anyone.
Inspector Gafa said that council clerk Daniel Micallef had alleged to the police that Mr Dimech had sent him to Mr Buhagiar, asking him to withdraw the allegations he had made to Mr Bugelli.
Defence counsel Stephen Tonna Lowell asked the inspector why some of Mr Dimech's reported comments were not recorded on tape by the police. The inspector said this was part of procedure. He said that in six years of service he never recorded interrogations and it was during questioning about serious crimes that recordings were made.
Inspector Gafa insisted that Mr Dimech was always in a good enough state of health for questioning.
Dr Tonna Lowell said that after the first statement was concluded, Mr Dimech had asked the inspector for a further five minutes 'so he could tell the truth' but the inspector refused. He asked the inspector why this had happened.
Inspector Gafa said that at that stage he felt he needed to question Mr Buhagiar.
Asked if Mr Dimech was undressed in the police lock-up, the inspector said Mr Dimech was not stark naked but he was searched, for his own safety, as was normal procedure.
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28 Comments
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D Schembri
Oct 20th 2011, 14:31
at the very least, Nikki should be stripped from his CPA warrant - shame to the profession.
E Vella
Sep 23rd 2010, 10:43
@ david gulia
of course he is not just a mayor... he is one of the best tax speciliats in Malta, and absolutely has other related jobs to this.
on the other hand, it is a pity that such large amounts of money were allegedly spent in drugs. a real pity.
C. Muscat
Sep 23rd 2010, 08:51
Is it possible to know why the contract of Mr. Buhagiar was terminated? Maybe his services were not required from the beginning?
Now that Nikki Dimech is stating that he was offered a commission; is anyone investigating this allegation?
Carmel Garcia
Sep 23rd 2010, 08:38
X'ghanda x'taqsam id-droga ma dan il-kas ta Kummissjoni u kmhux kummissjoni? Mela veru tridu tkissrulu hajtu 'l dan il-bniedem? Din x'karita nisranija hi? Lil tal-PN, l-ewwel ghollejtuh fl-gholi u issa ghax forsi zbalja tridu titfuh fl-abbissi. Jista jkun li dan frame up iehor?
M. Aquilina
Sep 23rd 2010, 10:05
@ Carmel Garcia
Id-Droga ma ghandha x'taqsam assolutament xejn, u j'Alla min ghandu dan il-mishut vizzju isib ghajnuna u mhabba madwaru bhala ghajnuna. Alla hares ma naqblux fuq dan! Kieku jien inkun irrid min jghini. Pero issa naghmel mistoqsija ohra.......
Jista bniedem f'kariga li tirrikjedi hafna decizjonijiet importanti bhal dik ta' sindku, ikun fuq l'uzu ta' droga, u jkun jista jwettaq xoghlu sewwa?
Jien perswaz li dan ma jistax isehh! Mela jista jkun li l-persuna li jkollu bzonn certu ammonti ta' flus jipprova jfittex sorsi ohra ta' income, ta' dhul, u jinqeda' bil-pozizzjoni tieghu biex jasal ghal dan il-ghan.
B'dan ir-ragunament naqbel 100% li persuni hekk ghandhom jitnehhew minn karigi daqshekk importanti.
U din missha sservi ta' taghlima ghalina l-votanti, nivvutaw ghal min hu serju, u mhux ghal min iwieghed l-ilma jizfen. Mhux il-glekk jaghmlek ragel, izda l-azzjonijiet tieghek!!!!
charles philip zammit
Sep 23rd 2010, 01:52
while it is not prudent to say who is saying the truth before the courts reach their verdict on this case, it is worthwhile to point out a thing or two resulting from what has been said in court till now.
a) it appears that mr buhagiar only spilled the beans six months after he was taken on board and after he was sacked from the job before his probation came to an end. why had mr buhagair not reported the case to mr bugelli immediately?
b) when asked why he requested the commission we have inspector gafa saying that mr dimech told him that he had a drug problem to the tune of 5000 euros a month. mr buhagiars salary was 1200 euros a month and the alleged commission would have been of a mere 120 euros a month if the maximum alleged requested was to be paid. does this adds up?
A Stafrace
Sep 22nd 2010, 21:38
Having cameras and all other kind of technological stuff will not help .. if that can be manipulated, deleted, changed, edited. So stop asking for CCTV.
Manuel Micallef
Sep 22nd 2010, 20:35
The case is shocking - we have two sides of "power" saying he opposite thing - one is an ex-mayor and the other is the police....
The issue here is that interogations in Malta are still kept under wrap, in a "dark room".
We are living in 2010, for god' sake.
Can we not have a camera in the depot which films what is going on during interogation? can the accused have access to a lawyer? and if his favourite lawyer is missing, the authorities should make available a person who acts as a legal advisor anyway -
Let's not forget that a person is guilty when the courts declar him/her as guilty, not when the police decide he/she is....
and as such, the process before s/he is guilty should be transparent to teh courts.... frameups do happen - or vice-versa the police get unjustly accused of frame-ups - hence transparency is important
J Brincat
Sep 22nd 2010, 19:32
A sad story of local politcs and intrigue!
Joseph Sammut
Sep 22nd 2010, 19:11
Apart from the issue of commission, Mr. Dimech - the Mayor - a drug addict!!!!! I don't want to be seen as blaming our political parties for what is currently happening, but can they screen their candidates initially and periodically for general conduct and corruption.
M. Rosaria brincat
Sep 23rd 2010, 13:15
Nikky said that he had a drug problem and now he does nt. So HAD is in the past.
AZammit
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:57
I am convinced that there are some people who are very scared that Nikki Dimech will eventually 'spill the beans'. It is obvious that he has adopted a wait and see attitude before he does so.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:31
1. A police frame-up? If yes it would tantamount to PN sleaze
2. A vendetta by the contracts Manager? If yes it would tantamount to PN sleaze
3. An act of corruption by the then Mayor? If yes it would tantamount to PN sleaze
Let’s hope that the truth will eventually surface.
M. Fenech
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:13
Unfortunately, many mayors has this type of mentality. They try to promote their people on every occasion. Could it be contracts, could it be cultural activities, and could it be for favouring parking or no parking zones. I wish that one day all the yellow lines and signs of traffic managment would be sanctioned by Transport Malta. As to date many mayors try to do favours to their voters, irrispective of the need or in accordance to the law. I know what I'm talking about as I'm going through a situation regarding traffic managment, and for some obscured reasons, the local council does not imply the reccomandations by Transport Malta.
P.Cassar
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:04
POINTS TO PONDER:
AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IN PLACE A COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION? IN ALL THE LAST CASES WHERE WAS/IS IT HIBERNATING ON OUR MONEY ?
IS THIS COBWEB OF TBASWIR SPREADING UP AND ALL AROUND INVOLVING MINISTERS AND WHOLE GOVT?
IS GONZIPN STILL JUST TALKING ( NOT DOING) ABOUT THE WHISTLEBLOWERS ACT?
MORE PONTS AS THE CASE/S UNFOLD
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 17:11
"Mr Dimech told the police that the council had received many complaints about Mr Buhagiar. At one time Mr Buhagiar, accompanied by MP Robert Arrigo called on Mr Dimech, asking him not to terminate the contract. Mr Arrigo at one time even shouted at councillor Yves Cali' and the matter ended up at party level."
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 17:08
A point to ponder.-
"When questioned by the police about why he had sought a commission, Mr Dimech had claimed that Mr Arrigo had asked for his people to be favoured by the council."
Vincent Galea
Sep 22nd 2010, 17:02
Why are you so surprised to find that corruption is running amok all over the world ?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 16:55
1. A police frame-up?
2. A vendetta by the contracts Manager?
3. An act of corruption by the then Mayor?
Let’s hope that the truth will eventually surface.
Joe Vella
Sep 22nd 2010, 17:30
When are the residents of Fgura are going to know the truth in respect to the sacking of their Mayor by Joseph Muscat and the PL? If i was you, I will keep my arms firmly down.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:17
@ The Maltese-Canadian.
When will the Fgura residents get to know the truth about the sacking of their Mayor by Joseph Muscat and the PL? If I were you, I’ll keep my hands firmly down.
P.Scicluna
Sep 22nd 2010, 16:41
I have a feeling that Micheal Fenech Adami was right
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 17:16
I haven't got the slightest doubt.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2010, 19:06
Hope this will have the domino effect. This place needs a good clean up as it started to stink like a dead skunk.
r ferriggi
Sep 22nd 2010, 16:11
this case,,, as in the case of the BWSC..... has removed any doubts in the mind of the people about politicians, poeple in power, councillors etc.
and lets face it,,, tis is a 'freak' disclosure. God knows the actual going-ons.
david gulia
Sep 22nd 2010, 16:02
Was Nicky Dimech working another job while he had the position as a mayor?.....if not how did he used to finance his alleged drug habit? 4,500 to 5000 euros a month is not a joke!!!probably he had another mode of income????
Karl Consiglio
Sep 22nd 2010, 15:44
I guess there is so much corruption, that every now and again a bit will leak, as is allegedly the case here.
victor borg
Sep 22nd 2010, 18:11
And the PN media stays quiet after such very serious allegations and now drugs are mentioned but did not stop asking for the pound of flesh because John Bonnici removed a couple of ballustrades so people can go through. Even Lija's mayor disagreed with Attard's mayor on the matter.I keep searching the pn media to learn more about the Sliema saga but to no avail.