Gozo Minister Anton Refalo is insisting he acted correctly when he referred a contractor to the civil service structures that dealt with potential whistleblowers.
Dr Refalo had been told of allegations by Gozitan contractor Joe Cauchi about a scheme by which works in the private sector were carried out using public funds under the former government.
In his first comments to Times of Malta, which has been chasing replies since the story first surfaced last month, Dr Refalo denied withholding information.
Despite the seriousness of the claim, Dr Refalo did not refer the matter to the police after he received the allegation in November. The police only got involved last March when the allegations surfaced in Malta Today at the start of the local elections campaign.
But he yesterday insisted he had immediately referred the contractor to the civil service structures that dealt with whistleblowers.
More in Times of Malta.