10 years ago - The Times

Friday, October 17, 2008

Fraud suspected in Manwel Dimech bridge certification

In a dramatic twist which will add more fire to the seemingly spent controversy surrounding the Manwel Dimech Bridge, the Roads Ministry yesterday asked the police to investigate suspected fraud in its certification.

An e-mail which, it appears, was sent by the Portuguese engineer responsible for certifying the bridge to his boss, the leading Italian contractor in the winning consortium, says, in Italian: “The project manager is requesting the tensioning of cables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1 and 6.1 to 105 per cent.

“As agreed on the phone, I will pretend that I tensioned the cables during the Easter period (the supervisor is not at the site on these days) and will change the values a bit.”

The supervisor referred to in the e-mail was architect Robert Sant, who was engaged by the authority to oversee the certification process.

In fact, he confirmed when contacted yesterday that he was the one to flag the alleged fraud to the authorities as soon as he came across the e-mail last week.

The e-mail was lodged with documentation that was actually handed over to him as part of the final verifications.

25 years ago - The Sunday Times

Sunday, October 17, 1993

Air Malta posts record profit of Lm8.4 million

Air Malta has posted a record profit of Lm8.4 million and company chairman Joseph N. Tabone yesterday said the airline was considering the use of other regional jets.

A decision on this will be taken soon to make the airline better prepared and more flexible for next summer, Mr Tabone told a news conference.

Mr Tabone said Air Malta next month will start scheduled flights to Damascus and in the meantime the company was exploring new destinations.

Italy’s top anti-tangenti magistrate to visit Malta

Magistrate Antonio Di Pietro, whose name has become synonymous with Italy’s anti-corruption campaign known as Operazione Mani Pulite, is among the speakers scheduled to take part in the XIth Kerygma International Seminar being held next Sunday at the Grand Hotel Verdala.

The one-day seminar’s theme is based on the prologue of St John’s Gospel – “...And the Life was the Light of Men” – Belief, Broadcasting, Evidence.

Half a century ago Times of Malta

Thursday, October 17, 1968

Filfla as natural reserve area

The Civic Committee of Żurrieq is seeking to have the islet of Filfla declared a ‘natural reserve’ area so that birds, particularly sea-birds, can start nesting again there, as was the case in the past.

The committee, upon a request from the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, has also formulated a scheme to increase the number of trees on the island. It has now put forward this scheme, which includes the planting of trees at Wied iż-Żurrieq and Wied Babu, in the Wardija Tower area and along Blue Grotto Avenue.

New hotel on Coast Road

The Salina Bay Hotel opened its doors to its first clients yesterday evening. The 200-bed hotel commands an uninterrupted view over the whole of Salina Bay and the majority of residents will have this panoramic sea view from their private balcony.

Wartime bomb near laundry

A 250-kilogram bomb found on Tuesday near the Hotel Phoenicia laundry, was yesterday defused by 72 (Malta) Support Squadron Royal Engineers. The operation was under the supervision of Capt. Malcolm Wilson, Bomb Disposal Officer, Malta.