Roderick Galdes

Police are investigating allegations that an official at the Housing Parliamentary Secretariat was involved in bribery.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said yesterday he had immediately suspended the member of staff after he was alerted to alleged corruption. He also reported the matter to the police.

Sources involved in the investigation, told the Times of Malta the staff member had allegedly received some €400 in exchange for assigning a member of the public to a particular State-owned property.

“While this is not a very large sum of money, the issue might be far broader. We cannot rule out at this stage that this has happened a number of times,” the police sources said on Friday.

Meanwhile, sources within the Housing Authority said a number of documents would be reviewed to flag any dubious activity.

In a statement, Mr Galdes said that since taking over the housing portfolio he had taken it upon himself to try and weed out abuse to ensure those in need were given dignity and shelter.

“This is why circumstances like this disappoint and anger me greatly,” he said.