A former health ministry secretariat officer has been cleared of corruption charges after a court found that an “intermediary” was requesting money on his behalf without his knowledge.

Thomas Woods had been charged back in 2007 of requesting bribes in return for helping people get boarded out of work. The court had heard how the request for bribe money would be made through an “intermediary,” Saverin Sinagra, but it turned out that Mr Woods had no knowledge of her actions.

As a secretariat officer, Mr Woods was in charge of hearing complaints and dealing with and advising people who requested to be boarded out.

The case came to light when an applicant refused to pay the money requested by Sinagra and complained to psychiatrist (later PN minister) Joe Cassar.

The court heard how Ms Sinagra, 80, from Zejtun, had told a certain John Camilleri that he would have to hand over LM600 (€1,400) in return for Mr Woods’ help. The man refused to pay and spoke to Dr Cassar.

Sinagra had admitted to asking for bribe money but claimed she would pass the entire sum to Mr Woods. The woman, who was herself prosecuted and found guilty (she was handed a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years), said she did this between four and six times. She had claimed that Woods would collect the money from her Zejtun house.

However, other witnesses painted a different picture and said that, while Woods had processed their requests, he had never asked for or mentioned any money. The only one who had asked for payment was Ms Sinagra.

Dr Joe Cassar testified in 2012, telling the court how he had advised Mr Camilleri not to pay Sinagra. He had then reported the case to then Social Security Minister Dolores Cristina.

Some of Mr Woods’ former colleagues told the court that the applicants had never been asked to pay anything. In fact, some of them had had their application rejected.

Mr Woods also testified. He said that, while it was true that Sinagra would send people to him for help, he had never asked for or received any money. He said some of the people he helped would show their appreciation by gifting him with a rabbit or some fish but no money had ever exchanged hands.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit found that Mr Woods was unaware that Sinagra was requesting payment from the people she sent to his office for help and advice. The court said the prosecution had failed to prove the existence of an arrangement between Sinagra and Woods. It could not possibly believe Sinagra’s claim that she gave Woods all the money, without pocketing some of it. No one did anything for free, the court said. And none of the witnesses brought forward by the prosecution and the defence had cast a shred of doubt on Mr Woods. The accused had only carried out his duties and any small gifts he had received were given to him as a sign of appreciation, not in return for doing something he shouldn’t have.

Mr Woods was therefore found innocent and was acquitted of all charges.