The police are investigating claims that the former Gozo minister Giovanna Debono’s husband used public funds to carry out free construction works for her constituents.

Police sources told Times of Malta that police officers were tasked with securing government documents pertinent to the case.

A whistle-blower said the works were paid for by the Gozo ministry under the previous administration and were organised by Anthony Debono, the former minister’s husband.

The works were allegedly carried out in the months leading to the last general election and some were even done on the day the polls opened in March 2013.

According to the whistle-blower, whose claims were reported by Malta Today yesterday, Mr Debono was at the time employed by his wife’s ministry to carry out cement, concrete and construction works on quarries, private homes, roads and garages to constituents free of charge.

The police have been given a number of invoices for the free works

The police have been given a number of invoices for the free works, including an illegal garage in a quarry, private works for a Nationalist Gozitan mayor, works on a restaurant near Victoria, works on private homes and even a fireworks factory. All the materials, including cement, metal mesh and stone, were provided by the Gozo Ministry.

The whistle-blower is claiming that the Gozo Ministry was in the practice of issuing invoices for works that were never carried out. Instead, contractors would use the funds to carry out works for constituents, the whistle-blower claims.

The informant is also saying that Mr Debono would often oversee the works personally. He would phone contractors and explain the nature of particular jobs. In one instance, he allegedly instructed workers to resurface a road with cement, a job started and completed on the day of the 2013 election.

‘He oversaw the works personally’

Efforts to try to reach Ms Debono yesterday evening were unsuccessful.

Questions sent to the police remained unanswered at the time of writing.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday said the Opposition would have to shoulder responsibility for the revelations.

“It is time for Simon Busuttil to walk the talk. Political responsibility must be shouldered for this.

“He has to answer and say what action he took when he learnt of this case,” Dr Muscat said.

He was speaking during a political rally in Mosta that saw the Labour Party kick off its Optimistic Malta (Malta Ottimista) campaign for the local council elections next month.