The former CEO of Malta International Airport has claimed he stopped the flow of sensitive financial information passing from MIA to shareholder Vienna International Airport (VIE) behind the back of the Maltese government.
Markus Klaushofer made the statement in a sworn declaration to the Industrial Tribunal in Valletta yesterday.
VIE was insisting on receiving the information despite legal advice he had received that this was an “illegal process” in breach of listing regulations, Mr Klaus-hofer claims in his declaration.
Vienna Airport is the single largest shareholder in MIA, with 33 per cent. The government has a 20 per cent stake.
The Austrian, who instituted a case against MIA after he was dismissed from his post in January, claims he was warned that “things will get very dirty” if he did not resign and says he is the victim of a “concocted story” intended to smear his reputation.
When I refused what was being suggested to me, Jaeger turned aggressive and stated that, if I do not take up the offer,I will be very sorry as ‘things will get very dirty’
He vehemently denies passing on any sensitive company information to third parties, as is being alleged by MIA, and insists he only learnt of this charge from stories published in the media.
The “concocted” allegation, he says, formed part of “bullying tactics” to smear his reputation. “The purpose of this concocted story is to put me in a bad light and create doubts in my integrity.”
He recounts that he was summoned to a meeting in Vienna on January 21 with his predecessor, Julian Jaeger, and MIA chairman Nikolaus Gretzmacher, both representatives of VIE.
Mr Jaeger referred to the “atmosphere” between him and Mr Klaushofer and said it would be better for everyone if he stepped down. Mr Klaushofer disagreed, saying that during his tenure the company had flourished and was achieving very good results.
Mr Jaeger proceeded to read an internal MIA memo concerning issues of confidentiality and professional secrecy, but at no point did it indicate any wrongdoing on Mr Klaushofer’s part.
“I specifically asked if I had done anything wrong but both Mr Jaeger and Mr Gretzmacher avoided [providing] the answer.”
Mr Jaeger offered him a €400,000 golden handshake on condition that he does not take the issue to a court, tribunal or any authority and refrain from making “negative remarks against MIA”.
Mr Klaushofer says the offer came in the form of a draft agreement, which he refused to sign, as he felt it was “a form of blackmail” and “a direct manoeuvre to get rid of me”.
“When I refused what was being suggested to me, [Mr] Jaeger turned aggressive and stated that if I do not take up the offer, I will be very sorry, as ‘things will get very dirty’,” Mr Klaushofer claims, adding that he was then informed he would be dismissed.
Mr Klaushofer was employed on a three-year contract with an annual salary of €147,100, excluding perks. Before the end of the term, his contract was renewed until June 30, 2017, and his salary raised to €175,000. He also had a performance bonus of 50 per cent of his annual salary, over which there was never any problem.
The first sitting of the tribunal, chaired by Edmund Tabone, only lasted a few minutes, with the case being deferred to September.
Cedric Mifsud represented Mr Klaushofer, while Louis Degab-riele represented MIA.