The Education Minister’s person of trust at the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS) who is under investigation on allegations of corruption and fraud has not been to work for a month but is still receiving his full government salary, the Times of Malta is informed.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Jose Herrera has confirmed that Edward Caruana “suspended himself” on November 18 – a few days after the corruption claims reached the media. He is receiving his “basic wage”.
“The person indicated [Mr Caruana] is employed with the FTS and was seconded to the Rural Development Department (part of the public service),” the spokeswoman said.
“He has suspended himself from work and is presently being paid his basic wage in accordance with the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and after legal advice was sought from the office of the Attorney General.”
While confirming that the case is under police investigation, the spokeswoman added that, “if the person indicated is taken to court” the law provides for further action.
Sources close to the Education Ministry said that although Mr Caruana was transferred from the FTS to the Rural Development Department in September, he was still considered an FTS manager and receiving his basic pay of more than €36,000 a year.
“Since he suspended himself, he is not entitled to allowances such as fuel, disturbance and performance allowances,” the sources said.
Asked for an explanation on Mr Caruana’s decision to suspend himself and whether this was provided for in public sector employment rules, the Environment Ministry did not reply.
Soon after Labour’s return to power in 2013, Mr Caruana was employed as a person of trust at Education Minister Evarist Bartolo’s private secretariat for around three weeks. Soon after, on Mr Bartolo’s recommendation, the FTS board headed by architect Samuel Formosa, recruited Mr Caruana as ‘Head of Summer projects’, without issuing a call.
He received an indefinite contract and a financial package of over €50,000 a year for his new post overseeing infrastructural projects in government schools. When asked to confirm that it was the minister who had recommended Mr Caruana, Mr Formosa said he did not remember.
In a damning resignation letter a few weeks ago, former FTS CEO Philip Rizzo accused Mr Bartolo of trying for months to dissuade him from reporting the alleged abuses and corruption by his canvasser.
On his part, Mr Bartolo said he had acted immediately when he got wind of the claims in August.
However, he later changed his version admitting that he was informed of these allegations months earlier but was waiting “for a smoking gun”.