Minutes of Sliema local council meetings have provided some insight into why Nationalist councillor Yves Bobby Calì and Labour councillor Martin Debono were arrested last week and questioned about laptops.

The minutes show that Mr Calì remained silent when the other councillors asked about two invoices for computer hardware and software and the next day he returned the laptops without hard disks or power supplies.

Initially, the issue seemed to revolve around the councillors making personal use of council laptops, as was the case with the mayor of Żebbuġ (Gozo), who allowed his daughter to surf the internet. But the minutes published on the local council’s website have painted a clearer picture.

The laptop issue was first raised on September 29, during a meeting the council held with accountant Christian Vella who was going through the council’s accounts. Mr Calì was present but Mr Debono was excused.

According to the minutes, at one point, the accountant noted there were two invoices for computer hardware and software among other purchases that had increased the council’s expenditure.

Labour councillor Nicolai Gauci wanted to know where the laptops were and mayor Joanna Gonzi asked the executive secretary to check with former mayor Nikki Dimech (who was absent) and council employee Althea Borg as well as the shop owner who supplied the computers.

The minutes indicate all the councillors agreed and that Mr Calì did not say anything regarding the laptops. This happened at the same time Mr Calì was making headlines over comments he made on MP Robert Arrigo, backing up Mr Dimech’s claims of interference by Mr Arrigo.

The issue was raised again at another meeting, on October 7, attended by both Mr Debono and Mr Calì. The executive secretary said she did not have to write to Mr Dimech, Ms Borg or the shop owner who sold the computers because the laptops had been returned on September 30, a day after the meeting when they had first been mentioned. She said Mr Calì had returned the two Apple laptops but pointed out the power supply and hard disks were missing.

The minutes then record Mr Debono saying he was using his laptop for the residential parking zones project and Mr Calì was using his to produce a magazine for the council. Mr Debono added the hard disks were not returned because they had been bought by the councillors themselves.

Councillor Sandra Camilleri pointed out that, despite being present at the other meeting,Mr Calì had not said anything about the laptops. The minutes do not indicate any reaction from Mr Calì.

MrDimech said he too had a laptop in his possession but would only return it when he got reimbursed for a trip abroad on council business. However, the executive secretary said the payment was being investigated and Mr Dimech accepted to return the laptop the next day.

Mr Debono and Mr Calì last Sunday spoke about the way they were arrested after a council meeting last week, taken to police headquarters and kept for 24 hours in a cell, when they were also questioned.

Mr Debono said he was asked to strip completely naked in front of officers while Mr Calì was allowed to keep his underwear on. They said they would address a joint press conference about the incident during which they would also deny any allegations against them.

The police have not yet responded to their allegations of heavy-handedness and no charges have been pressed against the councillors so far.

They were arrested together with another three councillors: Mr Dimech and Patrick Pace from the Sliema council and St Julians councillor Raymond Cachia. It is understood they were questioned by the fraud squad.

Mr Dimech is facing court charges of bribery.