The sister of the President’s daughter-in-law, Darleen Zerafa has been offered the expenses of a Master’s degree in Italy by the Malta Community Chest Fund, the Office of the President has confirmed.

However, it pointed out that Ms Zerafa, who is also the secretary of the fund’s board on a voluntary basis, declined the offer.

According to minutes of the board posted online by columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the proposal was made by the President George Abela himself.

While the office of the President did not specifically authenticate the minutes, it did not dispute them and instead confirmed their gist.

“Ms Zerafa had decided and enrolled on a course of studies, on a distance learning basis, in June 2012 leading to a Masters degree in the management of an eating disorders centre,” a spokeswoman for the Office of the President said.

“The MCCF board, conscious of the fact that this could offer great benefit to develop the protocols and good working practices in Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek, set up by a Foundation jointly between the MCCF and the Ministry for Health, to cater for eating disorders, unanimously agreed to reimburse Ms Zerafa with the related course expenses.”

However, the spokeswoman said that although the “MCCF board still feels itself justified in making this offer” the 37-year-old, Ms Zerafa declined the offer. “and it can be confirmed that no reimbursements have ever been claimed or paid, or will be paid to Ms Zerafa for the full duration of her course.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com