Corruption commission to look into Sant’s claims
The Permanent Commission Against Corruption will be looking into claims of corruption made by Alfred Sant in Parliament and if any prima facie evidence is found it will hold an inquiry, the commission’s chairman Albert Manche’ has told The Times.
On Monday, the former Prime Minister, when criticising the way corruption was fought in Malta, mentioned four alleged cases of corruption during the debate on the Bill amending the Permanent Commission Against Corruption Act.
His allegations included a minister getting “Lm60,000 to Lm70,000 as earnest money over a maintenance contract of an important government plant” and a foreign company being contacted to see whether it would contribute to the PN if awarded a tender.
When contacted about the case and asked whether he would be reporting it to the Permanent Commission Against Corruption or the police, Dr Sant said: “Of course not. If you don’t have the smoking gun, what can you do?”
He would not give more details but ruled out reporting the case as he had no hard evidence since time had passed.
Dr Manche’ said the commission still had to look into the claims made by Dr Sant but remarked that often MPs “liked” making allegations without forwarding them to the commission because they might be found to be baseless.
“I’m not saying this is the case, however,” Dr Manche’ said.
The commission will now try to see whether there is any prima facie evidence and proceed from there.
“We need proof. We can’t perform miracles,” the chairman said.
A spokesman for the Nationalist Party said it was Dr Sant’s “moral, legal and political responsibility to pass any information he has to the Permanent Commission Against Corruption or to the Commissioner of Police”.
Asked what the party would do if someone was found guilty, the spokesman said “the PN would expel from the party anybody found guilty of corruption or impropriety in public office.”
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victor caruana
Apr 4th 2011, 11:30
one does not need to be a Holmes to get the picture.
the worst thing is to deny corruption is alive and kicking.
Even watchdogs are not lily white.
Carmelo Micallef, Valletta
Apr 4th 2011, 14:25
@ Victor Caruana:
You are correct one does not have to be Holmes to get the picture. Make unfounded allegations without naming names and without facts - as self declared by Dr Sant - you slur the watchdog without even hinting at any facts - this is low life behaviour.
This is a serious issue that effects the whole nation.
Let us try and deal with maturity and integrity, identify the culprits, highlight the facts, the good people of Malta will do the rest.
Muscat Pat
Apr 4th 2011, 15:44
We are living on the 'Alice in Wonderland' island :
hear no evil,
see no evil,
do no evil !
NB. Do the Corruption Commission take a double bonus for their successful track- record?
Hilarious!
Joseph Scicluna
Apr 4th 2011, 11:19
sANT. WHEN IS THIS MUD SLINGING GOING TO STOP.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
saviour deguara
Apr 4th 2011, 11:10
xi kultant kulhadd ikun jaf lli xi hadd ikun (perezempju) kriminal imma ma jkunx hemm provi biex jitella il-qorti.. dan ma jfissirx li l-att kriminali ma jkunx ghamlu.. l-istess bil koruzzjoni.. aw xi hadd li jista jemmen verament illi certu politici maltin ma humiex korotti u li ghamlux eluf ta liri mil koruzzjoni?? imma sfortunatament illum il gurnata il koruzzjoni ma ghadiex xi 50 lira commision ghal tv tal kulur (li kienet hazina ukoll) imma saret eluf u eluf kbar ta liri li jjkunu mohbijin sew u minghajr ebda mod kif tressaq il provi fil qorti..
Gerard Cassar
Apr 4th 2011, 10:54
Just publish an instance when Dr. Manche found that there has been corruption!
R Caruana
Apr 4th 2011, 09:50
How very typical of Alfred Sant. First he makes allegations but when asked to substantiate his cliams he chickens out!
I M Dingli
Apr 4th 2011, 10:38
Do you truly believe there is no corruption whatsoever? I mean, truly!!
Carmelo Micallef, Valletta
Apr 4th 2011, 14:20
@ I M Dingli:
The correspondent wrote no such thing. You are scoffing at your own invention.
Carmelo Micallef, Valletta
Apr 4th 2011, 09:50
@ Dr Sant:
Please state for the benefit of the nation the totality of what you know, including names of Ministers you allege to be involved in corruption, either inside or outside Parliament. Such a brave statement could then be investigated in full view of the public, failure to do this will render your Parliamentary accussations as baseless rumour mongering.