Nearly four months following the launch of an investigation into the Gaffarena scandal, the police refuse to say if the probe has been concluded and whether they will be pressing charges.
This newspaper reported in March that the police had seized Land Department files related to the case involving the expropriation of half a Valletta palazzoin Old Mint Street worth €944,500, for which businessman Mark Gaffarena was given €3.4 million in cash and property. The case led to the resignation of Michael Falzon from his role as planning parliamentary secretary.
On June 15, the Times of Malta sent questions to the police asking if the investigation had been concluded and whether charges would be filed.
This newspaper did not refer to any names, nor did it seek detailed information.
In a reply received a few days ago, the police refused to give any information, citing the Police Act, which, they said, barred an officer from divulging “any details to the press or the broadcasting media regarding the identity of any person arrested on a reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence”. No reply was forthcoming when it was pointed out to a police spokeswoman that no such details were being sought.
The investigation was launched more than a month after a damning National Audit Office report published last January which had established that there had been “collusion” between the Land Department and Mr Gaffarena.
The police started investigating after it was announced on March 7 that a former Land Department director, Charles Camilleri, had sent a sworn statement to the NAO.
He was one of the officials mentioned in the NAO report as having facilitated the transaction. In his affidavit, Mr Camilleri said that he had not told the Auditor General the entire truth, adding that he had been “pressured… and threatened” by people working for the Office of the Prime Minister not to expose details that would undermine them.
He added that he had not exposed Dr Falzon’s involvement in the deal because he “felt threatened” by the junior minister’s liaison officer with the department, Clint Scerri.
Mr Camilleri said that, prior to being interviewed by the NAO, Mr Scerri used to visit his office, along with Mr Gaffarena, asking him to avoid mentioning the parliamentary secretary and Mr Scerri, to avoid them appearing in a bad light.