The whistleblower inthe Gozo alleged "work-for-votes" saga has accused Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of trying to intimidate him.

In a counter-protest filed in reply to one filed by Dr Busuttil against him yesterday, Joseph Cauchi said Dr Busuttil used a legal instrument to attack him and his credibility and had tried to exert pressure on him to change his version. This, he said, was “censurable and deplorable”.

He promised to continue telling the truth as he had always done so far.

Moreover, he accused Dr Busuttil of potentially acting in breach of the law by attempting to intimidate a witness, and in this particular case someone like him who was protected under the Whistleblower Act.

Through his lawyer Robert Abela, Mr Cauchi said he had received special protection under the Act to tell the truth as he “had done so far and intends continuing”.

He said it was “interesting” that Dr Busuttil issued a statement while he was testifying in which he said that his testimony (Mr Cauchi) confirmed what Dr Busuttil had said publicly but later filed a judicial protest saying Mr Cauchi had lied under oath and it amounted to defamation. He said these “contradictory” positions were “unexplainable”.

“The serious and dangerous behaviour amounts to interference with the judicial process that was not in the best administration of justice. [Dr Busuttil] knows that it is up to the magistrate to judge the credibility of the witness and he cannot expect to be given this role,” he said.

As he rejected Dr Busuttil’s accusations, Mr Cauchi warned that he was not going to withdraw any part of his testimony in court and invited Dr Busuttil to take any further action he deemed fit. 

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