Gozo Channel never managed to recoup money stolen from the cafeterias of its ferries, despite guilty pleas in court by almost all of those involved.

The Auditor-General in a report to Parliament today said that notwithstanding that in July 2012 the Board of Directors was aware that a number of cafeteria employees were colluding together and committing pilferage, and the matter
was already referred to the police, up till May 2013, the employees in question were still in employment and receiving their full salary.

According to media reports, the said embezzlement spanned over six years and
amounted to at least €500,000. However Gozo Channel did not confirm this amount since, according to one of the heads of department “... it would
be highly irresponsible and inaccurate to assume the amount stolen based on the information available ...”.

This implied, the auditor said, that any controls in place, if any, were not sufficient.

During criminal court proceedings, nine of the 10 employees involved in the
embezzlement pleaded guilty (and were placed on probation) while one pleaded not guilty. As a result, this latter officer was suspended on half pay as from April 2013, in line with
the provisions of the collective agreement, and was still receiving 50% of his salary accordingly.

With respect to the other nine employees, Board minutes showed that due to lack of evidence, the Board was advised by the then legal advisor to reach an
agreement with the said employees, wherein they would be requested to resign with immediate effect.

In line with this advice, the company waived all claims against these employees, while the workers also gave up on claims for outstanding balances due to them by the company.

In view of the above, no money whatsoever was recouped by the company.

See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130522/local/gozo-channel.470827