Dominican friar Mark Montebello.

One of the complainants in the clerical sex abuse case involving the former Kerygma Movement director was offered a six-figure sum in return for her silence through Dominican priest Mark Montebello, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

Fr Montebello communicated the offer to Edgar Bonnici Cachia, who is assisting the woman, during a telephone conversation.

Mr Bonnici Cachia confirmed that Fr Montebello called him on his mobile phone at 10.18pm on April 1.

He claims that Fr Montebello said: “There is a person who is prepared to offer you [the victim] money, even a six-figure sum, as long as you withdraw everything.”

Mr Bonnici Cachia said he immediately responded that neither he nor the complainant were for sale.

When contacted, Fr Montebello confirmed the conversation took place but said he was passing on a message on behalf of a married person that he declined to name.

“I knew of someone who was prepared to offer the money, so I simply passed on the message to Edgar,” Fr Montebello said.

Priest: I simply passed on message

The woman, in her 40s, is claiming that Fr Charles Fenech sexually abused her during the course of a relationship spanning a number of years.

She alleges that the abuse started while she was being treated at Mount Carmel Hospital.

After this newspaper broke the story that the 54-year-old priest was facing criminal charges a fortnight ago, Fr Fenech was ordered not to exercise his duties and was removed from his posts.

He is yet to be charged in court in connection with these allegations – having failed to attend court sittings on three occasions – and is denying the charges.

Mr Bonnici Cachia said he agreed to assist the complainant several years ago after she confided in the technician of his radio programme on Radju Marija.

In comments to this newspaper, the complainant had initially mentioned former Archbishop Paul Cremona in connection with this monetary claim but a spokesman for the Curia dismissed this assertion as “completely false”.

“Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona never offered any sum of money to people claiming abuse,” a Curia spokesman said.

mxuereb@timesofmalta.com