Former Żebbuġ mayor cleared

Former Żebbuġ mayor Brian Bonnici has been acquitted of charges that he used council-paid staff to carry out works at his house.

Mr Bonnici had resigned from the council after allegations surfaced in the Nationalist Party media that he was abusing his power as mayor.

Handing down judgment, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi cleared Mr Bonnici of all charges.

During proceedings, the man who had appeared in compromising photos on the roof of Mr Bonnici’s apart­-ment block testified that his boss at the government company IPSL forced him to say that Mr Bonnici was abusing workers.

The man told the court that he had gone on the roof to speak to Mr Bonnici’s father, who was carrying out maintenance work.

The prosecution in the case was led by Inspector Angelo Gafà while lawyers Chris Cardona and Mark Vassallo defended Mr Bonnici.