The contractor turned whistleblower involved in the “works for votes” scandal used to get paid through false invoices issued by the husband of former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, a court heard yesterday.

In total these works amounted to €50,000 and were carried out in 22 different locations between 2004 and the day of the 2013 general election.

The details emerged during the compilation of evidence against Anthony Debono who is facing 13 charges involving fraud, misappropriation and the falsification of documents. The case is being heard at the Gozo court in front of Magistrate Neville Camilleri.

The cases allegedly occurred when Mr Debono was in charge of the Maintenance and Construction Unit within the Gozo Ministry which at the time was headed by his wife.

Inspector Abdilla, who is leading the prosecution, testified that the investigation was triggered by a story which appeared in Malta Today on March 8. The report claimed Mr Debono was the mastermind behind a scheme through which works were carried out for his wife’s constituents from public funds.

The court heard that on the same day the police swooped in on the Gozo Ministry and sealed a number of offices. By the following day it had transpired that the contractor in question was Joseph Cauchi known as Is-Sansun.

Inspector Abdilla said that last October Mr Cauchi complained to the ministry’s permanent secretary, John Borg, that he was owed money for works carried out under the previous administrations headed by the PN.

The prosecution presented 23 remittance advices, saying these were false invoices through which the contractor used to get paid for the works, which were not covered by a tender. Inspector Abdilla said the invoices were issued for fictitious works on the instructions of Mr Debono. Payments used to be issued for excavation services rendered by the contractor even though most of these projects involved the laying of concrete.

Inspector Abdilla said this was done intentionally to pass off the works as part of other ongoing projects. The raw material usedto be provided by P&J Debono and at a later stage by Road Construction Limited. By March 2013 the contractor had a pending bill of €50,000.

He also pointed out that following the 2013 election, the contractor received two separate payments of €10,000 from Mr Debono, leaving a balance of about €30,000.

Inspector Abdilla said the investigation took a new twist on April 1 when a decision was taken to grant the contractor protection through the Whistleblower Act. The following day the contractor accompanied the police to the sites in 22 locations where these works had been carried out at different times.

The accused got wind of this and told the owner to insist with the police that the works had not been carried out by his unit

The prosecution presented photos of these works and documents pertaining to the owners of these places.

Inspector Abdilla pointed out that on April 27, the police had questioned the owner of a piece of land in Qala where a water reservoir had been constructed through this ‘scheme’.

He said the accused got wind of this and told the owner to insist with the police that the works had not been carried out by his unit. Consequently, the police also charged Mr Debono with trying to prevent people from giving information or evidence to the competent authorities.

During yesterday’s hearing it also emerged that Mr Debono had opted to remain silent during interrogations carried out on April 28 and May 5. Inspector Abdilla testified that Mr Debono took this line as he felt the case was being treated as a political football.

Meanwhile the court issued a temporary order to freeze the assets of the accused until a final decision is taken at a later stage. The case is adjourned to Tuesday.

‘Works for votes’ sites

Għarb

• Demolition and excavation works on a perimeter wall at the football ground and enlargement of a 5-a-side pitch at the primary school.

• Construction of a platform to be used once a year during the village feast in Wied Ġulja.

• Laying of concrete in a road leading to a fireworks factory near the San Dimitri area.

• Levelling of a road in front of a farm house in Triq it-Trux.

• Excavation for a wall at a field.

• Works at quarry where drainage and services were laid out.

• Ramps in an area behind Ta’ Pinu Church.

• Concrete pathways and works to prevent flooding in Żebbuġ.

• Drainage works at Triq il-Kanun in Għasri on March 7, 2013.

Other locations

• Concrete works at a private property in Trejqet il-Ħarrub between Victoria and Fontana, on March 9, 2013 (election day).

• Concrete road at Taċ-Ċawla in Victoria.

• Enlargement of bridge and road levelling near a farmhouse at Wied il-Lunzjata.

• Road at a school in Kerċem.

• Concrete works at Sqaq ta’ Xirfi in Kerċem on March 7 and 8, 2013

• Concrete works near L-Għadira ta’ San Raflu and further down in a road overlooking Dwejra.

• Works at Brookies Restaurant in Victoria including the construction of a wine cellar.

• Laying of concrete at a lane in Tas-Sellum in Xagħra on March 6, 2013.

• A water reservoir in Qala built around 2004 or 2005.