Gozo Minister Anton Refalo’s position is no longer tenable and the Prime Minister should immediately remove him to ensure the preservation of any evidence regarding claims of private works using public funds, Opposition deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said this afternoon.
Times of Malta this morning published an article saying the police are investigating new claims of private works using public funds by the Gozo Ministry over the past two years.
Senior police sources said fresh allegations made in the past weeks were being investigated as part of the broader “works for votes” scam which, last week, saw Tony Debono, the husband of former PN Gozo minister Giovanna, being arraigned on corruption charges.
The works done for constituents with public funds were uncovered after a whistleblower blew the lid on the racket back in March.
The new investigation covers works allegedly done on a concrete platform at a Marsalforn restaurant as well as works in private properties in Għasri, Xagħra, Għajnsielem, Munxar and Victoria allegedly carried out more recently.
Addressing a news conference this afternoon, Dr Fenech Adami said Prime Minister Joseph Muscat shoudl take the decisions the people expected him to take.
He appealed to the police to intensify their investigations on the reported abuses and to all who had information to utilise the Whistleblower Act and take their information to the police.
Times of Malta contacted Police Commissioner Michael Cassar for a reaction.
He would not comment or provide details of the case. However, when pressed on the matter he asked Times of Malta: “Have I ever not investigated something brought to my attention?”
He added that there was “no cut-off period” for the Gozo works investigation and all claims related to the matter would be treated the same way irrespective of when they occurred.
He would not comment on whether Gozo Minister Anton Refalo was also being investigated in relation to the latest revelations.
MINISTER NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION
In a reaction, the Ministry for Gozo said the allegations made by the PN were fictitious and the Minister for Gozo was not under investigation.
However, the police were given access to all files as soon as investigations into the case involving the ministry started.
This, the ministry said, was the second mistake by Dr Fenech Adami in a few days.
Three days ago, he accused minister Anton Refalo of having illegally built a road for farmers, when the road was actually laid by Nadur local council when headed by Chris Said.
In another statement, the PN reiterated that Dr Refalo’s position was untenable. It said one could not have an investigation and the minister under investigation continued to issue statements in a desperate attempt to defend his actions. It was also scandalous that a minister under investigation published declarations of private individuals in an attempt to hide his actions.