The temporary court order for the freezing of assets of the accused in the alleged 'works for votes' scandal is to remain in force for the time being, the court ruled this morning.
The hearing continued this morning following the conclusion of the compilation of evidence last May when the court found enough prima facie evidence to place Former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono’s husband under a bill of indictment.
The works amounted to €50,000 and were carried out in 22 different locations between 2004 and the day of the 2013 general election.
Mr Debono is facing 13 charges involving fraud, misappropriation and the falsification of documents.
The cases allegedly occurred when Mr Debono, a civil servant, was in charge of the Maintenance and Construction Unit within the Gozo Ministry which at the time was headed by his wife.
Towards the end of today's hearing the defence pointed out that the request for the freezing of the accused's assets was upheld by the court only as a temporary order.
Defence lawyer Joe Giglio argued that two-and-a-half months after the case started being heard in court, the prosecution had already declared that Mr Debono made no personal gains or proceeds from it and called on the court to give a final decision, saying this temporary order was “crippling” his client.
The court said that for the time being, the temporary order would remain in force.
Today's proceedings follow:
10.50am: Superintendent Paul Vassallo is testifying. Inspector Ian Abdilla is prosecuting. Supt Vassallo said he was asked to go to Gozo by the Permanent Secretary of the Gozo Ministry on March 3 to seal some places where there were some files on the construction and maintenance department, relevant to works for votes allegations.
On April 17, he visited a quarry in Nadur where a certain Sunta Debono gave him a number of invoices which were presented in court this morning.
Inspector Yvonne Farrugia is now testifying.
10.55am: She said that on March 8, she was instructed to go to the Gozo Ministry where she sealed various offices within the ministry and the works department. She said there was an allegation of misuse of public resources of the Construction and Maintenance Department for private works.
PC1305 Silvio Zammit now testifying.
10.59am: PC Zammit, from the Economic Crimes Unit said he accompanied Supt Vassallo on March 8 to seal some offices at the Gozo Ministry.
Permanent Secretary John Borg had indicated which offices to seal, and later the police went to Kajselli in Xewkija and the Works Department in Triq il-Kappucini, Victoria.
They had also spoken Sunta Debono from P&J Debono, who passed some documentation which consisted of receipt books, presented to day in court.
In cross examination by defence lawyer Joe Giglio, PC Zammit said that at that stage (in March) he could not tell whether the allegations were being made by the ministry or a third party.
11.07am: WPS Marcelle Mifsud from the Economic Crimes Unit testified that, on April 2, she met Joseph Cauchi from Gharb (the whistleblower) who accompanied them to all the sites on which the allegations were made.
At his house they were given a file consisting of 23 remittance advices, as well as some workings drawn up by accused, on how Mr Cauchi should draft the invoices. Subsequently they traced the respective payment vouchers to the ministry.
On April 29, the accused was interviewed for the fourth time but once again he refused to reply to any questions.
11.23am: In cross examination, WPS Mifsud said that no one, apart the whistleblower, made further allegations. Asked what the Permanent Secretary had told her, she said Mr Borg did not make any allegations.
The defence argued that all allegations were made by a single person, Joseph Cauchi, who lamented he had not been paid for works he carried out for the CMU. Sergeant Mifsud confirmed she had heard the whistleblower make such complaints.
She heard that Mr Cauchi was to be awarded whistleblower status on April 2 when he accompanied them on a tour of the sites.
11.30am: Sergeant Shaun Friggieri is now testifying. He said that, on April 2, the whistleblower accompanied them to several sites which he had indicated. Mr Cauchi drove his car and the police followed him. At his house, Mr Cauchi had given them some files related to these works.
11.41am: PC Robert Zammit testified that an exercise was carried out to verified which of the the sites in question were public or private.
In cross examination, he confirmed the accused had opted to remain silent during interrogations, as Mr Debono felt he was being used as “a political football”. He said he did not know whether the whistleblower was ever arrested or interrogated.
12.01pm: PC Zammit was the last prosecution witness.
The defence said the request for the freezing of the accused's assets was upheld by the court only as far as a temporary order.
Dr Giglio argued that two-and-a-half months after the case started being heard in court, the prosecution had already declared that Mr Debono made no personal gains or proceeds from it.
“I hope this order will not remain in force for the simple reason that the whistleblower was alleging the accused owed him money,” Dr Giglio remarked.
He called on the court for a final decision, saying this temporary order was “crippling” his client.
The court said that for the time being, the temporary order would remain in force.
12.15am: The case has been adjourned to August 26.