The President of Malta is refusing to give any details on the multi-million compensation given to 11 victims of the 2015 Paqpaqli għall-Istrina tragic accident despite that most of the funds came out of the public coffers.
Times of Malta is informed that more than €3.5 million have been disbursed among 11 of the 23 victims of the Ħal Far car crash and that, so far, all funds were paid by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.
Despite various attempts to obtain precise figures on how much taxpayers forked out for an out-of-court settlement negotiated on behalf of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, her office refused to answer any questions.
Read: Paqpaqli volunteers left in the dark as compensation to victims is paid out of public funds
“Not one cent of MCCFF funds was utilised in the compensation settlement for victims,” the President’s spokesman insisted.
However, when pressed to give details of the total compensation disbursed and where the funds came from, the spokesman refused to reply.
President is not facing any criminal charges
“Criminal proceedings in this case are still ongoing and it is highly inappropriate to risk prejudicing such proceedings through speculation or further comment,” was the spokesman’s only reply.
The Office of the President is not involved in any criminal proceedings.
A few weeks ago, a spokesman for Dr Coleiro Preca said that the millions in compensation to the victims was to be settled through funds from the insurance of the event and a subvention from the government.
However, so far both Mapfre Middle Sea insurance and the Office of the Prime Minister refused to give any details.
The Times of Malta is informed that since there is no agreement yet between the insurance firm and the insurers, which apart from the President include also members of her staff and the volunteers who helped out in the organisation of the event, all the funds paid so far came from taxpayer money.
“It is now up to the President’s Office, the government and the insurance company to settle the issue on whether some of the compensation, a maximum of €1.8 million, will come from the insurance company,” sources close to the compensated victims said.
In exchange for the compensation, the victims dropped their lawsuits against the President.
Unlike the volunteers who had organised the event, the President is not facing any criminal charges over the incident as a magisterial inquiry held soon after the accident exonerated Dr Coleiro Preca of any involvement.
At first, the President had refused any responsibility and rejected the victims’ demands for compensation.
However, following compromising evidence in court during the lawsuits filed against her, the President’s office changed tack and agreed to an out-of-court settlement.