(Adds OPM's clarification)
The man charged with sending a defamatory e-mail to Rita Schembri told the court this morning he had informed the Prime Minister’s Office that Ms Schembri was a “fraudster” three years ago.
Joe Borg, 75, is pleading not guilty to sending a defamatory e-mail in November, in which he tried to blackmail Ms Schembri and her husband, Mark.
He said in court that later, when he found out that Ms Schembri was working for the European anti-fraud office OLAF, he informed MEP Simon Busuttil, now PN deputy leader, and Foreign Minister Francis Zammit Dimech on how unfit she was for office.
He said that Dr Busuttil told him to go to the police while Dr Zammit Dimech said he would tell Prime Minster Lawrence Gonzi about it.
Ms Schembri is being investigated at her own request for breach of a code of ethics when she allegedly used her government office to conduct private business.
Testifying this morning, Mr Borg said that he had wanted Dr Gonzi to know about the court case he had with the Schembris, in which they were declared to have acted fraudulently in his regard.
The couple had illegally sub-let a property which belonged to Mr Borg to a Nigerian couple. The Schembris had taken €54,000 in key-money from the Nigerian done behind his back.
He opened a court case against them and they were ordered to vacate the property and declared to have acted fraudulently, he said.
Mr Borg said that following the judgment he went to the Prime Minister’s Office to let him know that Ms Schembri, who worked within the OPM was not worthy. He said he spoke to someone who gave him the email of Romina A Galea and told him to send the details to her. He heard nothing and decided to keep his mouth shut. This was about three years ago.
Mr Borg said that after speaking to Dr Busuttil and Dr Zammit Dimech, he sent Ms Schembri an email to give her a chance to redeem herself.
In that email he gave her 24 hours to pay the money back to the Nigerian couple. When he did not hear from her for 48 hours he sent an email to OLAF informing them of the case.
He said that later the police charged him in court before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera. This, he said, was rather unfortunate as he had revealed corruption involving the magistrate’s father. He said that he was denied bail and spent four days in prison.
Magistrate Anthony Vella deferred the case for final submissions.
OPM CLARIFICATION
In a clarification this afternoon, the Office of the Prime Minister said that the Prime Minister never received any communication from Mr Borg with any allegations on Ms Schembri.
The OPM said that no Romina A Galea had ever been employed at the OPM since 2004.