The compilation of evidence against former Enemalta chairman Alex Tranter continued this afternoon with a police inspector claiming that 14 traffic contraventions on two company cars assigned to Mr Tranter had been paid with the company's credit card. 

However, Police Inspector Ian Abdilla told the court that the police did not investigate who had been driving the car when the traffic offences were committed. 

Inspector Abdilla said the contraventions ranged from illegal parking to obstructing a garage and to parking on a pavement. The fines were given to two cars leased by Enemalta - a Honda Accord and an Alfa Romeo GT - between 2006 and 2010. 

Under cross examination, Mr Abdilla said the police did not investigate who was driving the cars when the fines were given and confirmed that the cars, although assigned for Mr Tranter's use, were also used by Enemalta's senior management. 

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Tranter, 51, from Swieqi, who is denying misappropriating public funds by using the corporation’s credit card for different transactions.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Tranter made personal use of Enemalta funds when he served as chairman between 2005 and 2010 but particularly in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

"I do not know who physically committed these contraventions. The only evidence I have is that it was paid through the Enemalta credit card. Do not know if Mr Tranter did it. Once the car was assigned to him, even though used by others, Mr Tranter should have paid them himself," Mr Abdilla told defence lawyer Joe Giglio.

Mr Abdilla also said the police had also investigated a €7,900 refund given to Mr Tranter over a work trip to Miami. He claimed that Mr Tranter's wife had joined him on the trip but he could not confirm this for a fact as he had not investigated the matter in depth. He did not interrogate Mr Tranter's wife and neither did he check whether Mrs Tranter had applied for a visa to travel to the United States. 

He said the trip took place in October 2008 and the refund was granted in January 2009. 

Mr Abdilla confirmed when asked, that Mr tranter had written to him in July this year, following his interrogation, asking for more information and documentation which could shed light on the Miami trip as he could not remember specific details of the trips. He also told the police that if there was some kind of mistake, he was prepared to refund the money immediately. 

However, the prosecution had decided not to give this documentation to him even though this was at hand. 

Asked about the credit cards, Mr Abdilla said that although the company had nine credit cards in possession of senior management, their personal assistants also had access to the cars and often made transactions themselves. 

He also confirmed that neither the Finance Department nor the auditors had questioned this amount. 

The case continues next month.