A cleaning consortium whose assets were frozen after being roped into a case involving a rival firm has been granted a provisional decree allowing it to pay its employees.
Servizi Malta Limited's assets had been frozen after four family members from MCCS Co. Ltd (Mr Clean) were charged with the human trafficking of 31 Filipino nationals, of incorporating or financing a criminal organisation, forming part of that organisation and misappropriation.
MCCS is one of Servizi Malta's four shareholders, but Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how the directors of Servizi Malta were different people to those charged.
The accused are Joseph Degiorgio, 71, from Balzan, Paul Degorgio, 47, from Lija, Christopher Degorgio, 42, from Naxxar and Josianne Bugeja Degorgio, 34, from Balzan.
Meanwhile, it also emerged in court that Mr Clean, the cleaning company whose directors stand charged with human trafficking, has recently won a tender at the Sir Anthony Mamo oncology hospital.
Servizi Malta director Claudine Ellul Sullivan explained that Servizi employees were paid directly by Servizi Malta, which had nothing to do with the other companies apart from the shareholding.
“We are actually competitors. A few months back Servizi Malta and Mr Clean competed for an Oncology Hospital tender which was won by the latter.”
The witness confirmed that two of the Filipino witnesses who have testified so far in the case had worked for Servizi Malta for a couple of months, but hastened to add that MCCS and Servizi Malta did not share employees.
She said employees of Servizi Malta were hurt because they were being affected by a situation that did not involve either them or their employer.
Lawyer Joe Giglio, appearing for Servizi Malta Ltd, asked the court to issue a decree on the matter. He noted that none of the company’s directors were accused in this case.
Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said a formal decree would be handed down on Monday but issued a provisional decree allowing the company to pay its workers.
Lawyer Franco Debono, appearing for three of the accused, said he would file a request for MCCS to be allowed to pay its workers.
Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Josianne Bugeja. Lawyers Marion Camilleri, Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia, are defence counsel to the other accused. Lara Dimitrijevic and Ann Maria Bisazza are appearing parte civile. Andrew Borg Cardona and Dr Giglio are appearing for Servizi Malta. Inspectors Joseph Buttigieg and John Spiteri are prosecuting.