Former Labour Party general secretary Jimmy Magro is still receiving half his salary as chairman of a government entity, even though he has been suspended from work following conclusions by the Commission Against Corruption that he asked for a cut from a €250,000 public tender.

Turning down a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Times of Malta for a copy of his engagement contract, Malta Enterprise said Mr Magro was suspended on half pay “according to his contract conditions”.

However, when asked for a copy of his contract, the State entity, which falls under the political remit of Economy Minister Chris Cardona, refused the request.

An official complaint has been filed by Times of Malta.

When asked for a copy of his contract, the State entity, which falls under the political remit of Economy Minister Chris Cardona, refused the request

At the same time, Malta Enterprise agreed to publish a copy of a letter sent to Mr Magro informing him he was being relieved of his duties. The letter, sent by ME chief executive officer Mario Galea, informed Mr Magro that following the corruption claims, he was being released from all his duties as executive chairman of the Major Projects Coordination Agency.

“Moreover, you are being suspended on half pay with effect from today [February 2, 2017] until further notice,” Mr Galea told the former Labour official.

Mr Magro was given his direct appointment as executive chairman of the government agency by Dr Cardona soon after Labour returned to power. His appointment was for a definitive period of five years, starting from June 2013.

In his testimony before the commission against corruption, Mr Magro denied the corruption claims and that he had asked bidders to pay for his holiday to Alsace, France, as part of his commission. “In 2014, I had an income of about €100,000 and did not need any money,” he told the Commission Against Corruption.

The corruption claims revolved around a 2014 tender for the commissioning of a compost machine costing over €250,000. According to bidder Victor Bonello, Mr Magro – a member of the tender adjudication process – asked for money to be given the contract.

Following its probe, the Commission Against Corruption, headed by Judge Lawrence Quintano concluded it was “a case of corruption or an attempt of corruption” by a public officer [Mr Magro] that should be ultimately decided by a court.”

The commission added that it was “morally convinced” that Mr Magro had sought money from the tender. The police have not yet arraigned Mr Magro.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com