A civil servant who colluded with Mark Gaffarena in the shady Valletta property deal tendered his resignation yesterday as the Prime Minister said he was “expecting” others to follow.
A government spokesman confirmed the Land Department’s director estate management Carmel (Charles) Camilleri first went out on leave yesterday and then resigned before the close of the working day.
The department’s staff were yesterday barred from entering their offices after a lock down ordered by the government (see page 3) to ensure no documents were handled.
The National Audit Office investigated the deal, which was first revealed by this newspaper last May, and concluded that Mr Camilleri was one of the main trio of actors that led to “irregularities” that were in “clear breach of the fundamental principles of good governance, transparency and fairness”.
Mr Camilleri was at the centre of negotiations and there were several reports of frequent visits by Mr Gaffarena to his office almost on a weekly basis. The visits continued even after the Times of Malta had shed light on the scandal and throughout the eight months of investigation by the Auditor General.
Apart from Mr Camilleri and former planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon, who resigned soon after the report was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the former director general of the department, Ray Camilleri, was also mentioned by the Auditor General as being part of the trio.
The report states: “The NAO arrived at the understanding that it was the DEM [Charles Camilleri] who assumed the primary role of negotiating with [Mr] Gaffarena; however, it must be stated that the conclusion of these negotiations would not have been possible without the endorsement of the DG [director general Ray Camilleri] and final authorisation by the PS [Michael Falzon]”.
Both Charles Camilleri and Ray Camilleri will face procedures before the Public Service Commission
Speaking soon after his resignation, Dr Falzon insisted he was innocent and said the NAO findings were contradictory.
This newspaper asked whether the government was comfortable with the former director general of the Land Department retaining his position as member of the planning authority board after it was confirmed he was part of the “collusion” in the Gaffarena deal.
“The government expects him to resign,” was the curt reply by a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s office.
The Auditor General investigation found the government acquired part of a property in Old Mint Street worth €944,500 while Mr Gaffarena received €3.4 million: €516,000 in cash and €2.9 million in property.
Mr Gaffarena has so far refused to comment.
caroline.muscat@timesofmalta.com