Anthony Debono.Anthony Debono, husband of former Gozo minister Giovanna Debono, will face court charges today over a claim that he was the mastermind of a works-for-votes scheme.
The allegation surfaced in March when Malta Today reported claims by a contractor-turned-whistleblower that Mr Debono contracted him to carry out private works meant to be paid for by the Gozo Ministry.
The allegations first surfaced in an e-mail the contractor sent PN general secretary Chris Said last year, seeking help because he had not been paid.
Dr Said had defended his failure to raise the alarm, insisting the words “work for votes” used in the e-mail did not imply abuse.
The contractor went to Gozo Minister Anton Refalo in November last year but, rather than calling in the police, Dr Refalo went through the civil service’s whistleblower mechanism. The police got involved in March and Mr Debono was interrogated at police headquarters last Tuesday.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has not taken action against Ms Debono, pending the police probe, and yesterday his spokesman said he had no comments to make at this stage.