An unemployed man from Birzebbuga allegedly paid €1,000 to the former Zebbug Council projects manager for a permit to have a stall in the locality's weekly market.

A court heard today that Christian Curmi, 24, the son of a hawker, had been pestering the council for a permit but the council always refused because there was no space available.

Mayor Alfred Grixti, who was the one who reported the matter it to the police on December 13 last year, said Mr Curmi's father, Anglu, was claiming that the council should be ashamed for accepting €1,000 for a permit and was then refusing to issue one. It transpired that the money was allegedly passed on the council's project manager, Philip Gatt.

He said he could not shoulder the responsibility of such information, especially when it could have political implications, so he reported to the matter directly to former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit.

The council suspended Mr Gatt who claimed that Christian Curmi had been pestering him for quite some time and one day got into his car and left an envelope with cash inside.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja appointed a court expert to examine Mr Curmi's mobile phone and extract an audio recording of the alleged conversation between him and Mr Gatt, who is facing separate criminal proceedings.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit prosecuted while lawyer Lucio Sciriha appeared for the accused.

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