An official at the Gozo Ministry used to sign-off on all public works allegedly carried out on private properties, confirming that the works had actually taken place, a court was told today.

The works were allegedly ordered by Ministry official Anthony Debono, the husband of former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono.

Mr Debono, a 59-year-old Nadur resident, faces a total of 13 charges. These include misappropriation of public funds, fraud, abuse of power, falsification of documents, making false declarations, committing crimes he was duty bound to prevent and preventing people from giving evidence during his tenure as head of the Construction and Maintenance Unit (CMU) at the Gozo Ministry when his wife Giovanna Debono was minister.

He is accused of being involved in a works-for-votes operation, through which the resources of the ministry were allegedly being used to carry out works for the benefit of individual constituents.

He was investigated after contractor Joe Cauchi turned whistleblower and accused Mr Debono of tasking him to carry out works for constituents and issuing false invoices for them. Mr Cauchi had first approached the ministry about the money he said he was owed by Mr Debono last year.

During the last sitting, the court heard how Mr Cauchi feared an arson attack after he came forward with his allegations.

Taking the witness stand today, Ministry official Joseph Buttigieg told the court that he would sign documents confirming that the works in question had taken place.

Mr Buttigieg struggled to recognise his signature on a number of government documents exhibited in court, but prompted by the prosecution, said that this was because the signature was obscured by a 'certified true copy' stamp.

Another witness, Gozo Ministry adviser Grezzju Mercieca said he was present for a meeting with Mr Cauchi at the end of October 2014, during which Mr Cauchi had come forward with details about the case.

Dr Mercieca said he had warned Mr Cauchi about potentially incriminating himself and advised him of the legal tools Whistleblower Act at Mr Cauchi's disposal, but this only spurred him on.

Dr Mercieca testified that Mr Cauchi alleged he was owed €50,000 for public works authorised by Mr Debono, including on garages, a restaurant and a football ground.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Joe Giglio, Dr Mercieca said he suggested that Mr Cauchi may qualify for whistleblower status, but was not entirely sure.

Asked if Mr Cauchi appeared to be seeking such protection, Dr Mercieca replied that he appeared to be aware of the possibility. 

At the end of the sitting, Dr Giglio argued that he should be given access to the police file containing all the evidence against his client, a request which the Attorney General has already turned down.

Dr Giglio said an EU directive provides that a person accused in a case should be allowed access to all the evidence gathered by the prosecution, and exceptions to this rule only exist in certain cases.

Access to statements given to the police by witnesses or potential witnesses is vital, as it allows the defence to see if these witnesses are giving contradictory testimonies in court, he said.

Dr Giglio said the Attorney General turned down the request to be given access to these statements on the basis that the investigation into the case is still pending.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri deferred the case to 18 November at 10:30am.

Inspector Ian Abdilla is prosecuting.