PL MP Silvio Parnis today denied claims made by a former aide, who alleged that he had embezzled funds raised by an NGO he (Mr Parnis) had founded. When contacted by The Malta Independent Mr Parnis denied all allegations and said that he had spoken to his lawyer and could institute a libel case to defend his reputation and to clear the foundation’s name.

Vincent De Bono, who until recently presented a TV programme alongside Mr Parnis, has taken to his Facebook page to criticize the PL MP. He claimed that Mr Parnis had used money collected from an NGO to pay for personal items. He also accused him of promising him a job but ignoring him after the election.

Mr. Parnis said that the NGO Mintix Wahdek is constituted according to law and as required, it performs accounting audits and submits all required reports to the competent authority annually.

The MP said that Mr De Bono had never mentioned him by name but his name came up when the story was picked up by a website. When asked if he would sue Mr De Bono or the website for libel, Mr Parnis said that his lawyer would determine the best course of action.

Mr Parnis said that Mr De Bono used to work with him and he had promised him a job on his secretariat should he be given a cabinet post. But when Mr Parnis did not become a member of the cabinet Mr De Bono stopped talking to him and began making these allegations. The PL MP said that he has presented all the evidence to his lawyer and the whole thing will now be taken to court, unless Mr De Bono retracts his allegations and apologises.

Mr Parnis was recently appointed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as Chairman to the Consultative Council for the South.