Sandro Chetcuti, who is facing charges of seriously injuring GRTU director general Vince Farrugia, said he was invited to Castille to welcome the new Labour Prime Minister by deputy leader Toni Abela as a sign of gratitude for his contribution.
I can tell you that I didn’t barge in but was personally invited
Contacted by The Times yesterday, Mr Chetcuti said he donated “a few thousand euros” to the Labour Party, but the Malta Developers Association vice president made it clear he was only representing himself and not the association during last Monday’s celebrations.
“I didn’t barge in but was personally invited by Toni Abela. It was a great experience for me and I think Dr Abela wanted to show his appreciation for my contribution.”
Asked whether this contribution also involved monetary donations to Labour, Mr Chetcuti admitted this was the case after an initial denial.
“We are not talking about big sums of money... just a few thousand and I can show you the receipts... in fact it could have been hundreds,” he said.
“My contribution mainly involved helping the party with my contacts as an entrepreneur as I wanted the country to get the change it deserves,” he said. Contacted by The Times Dr Abela confirmed he had invited Mr Chetcuti inside Castille.
“Yes he was with a group of people and I told them to come in,” he said.
“However, I don’t know of any donations he gave to Labour and I have nothing to do with that,” he added.
On the other hand, former Nationalist and independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said his presence at Castille on Monday was pure coincidence.
“I was with some friends in Valletta, and a Labour official, who is also a very good friend of mine, invited me to accompany him to Castille,” he said when contacted.
“I wasn’t expecting it and this is why I wasn’t in the right attire,” he insisted.
Asked whether as a for-mer Nationalist MP he felt comfortable celebrating a Labour win, he insisted he was a for-mer independent MP and not a Nationalist.
“I can tell you that I felt very comfortable,” he said.
Dr Pullicino Orlando declined to name the Labour official who invited him.