A man charged with fraud and misappropriation of public funds is asking for compensation worth €187,000 from Transport Malta after being fired due to the pending charges against him.
The request, being made by former Financial Director if the Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS) Ian Falzon, was submitted before the Industrial Tribunal while his former employer, Transport Malta, has just concluded submitting arguments on the case of whether Falzon was justly fired or not.
The case is being heard before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja. Falzon is accused of defrauding and misappropriating around €150,000 while occupying the role of Finance Director, something he vehemently denies.
In relation to this case, the former MATS CEO Lawrence Fenech admitted to the charges, was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended to four and was ordered to pay MATS €25,000 in six months.
Transport Malta, through its lawyer Aaron Mifsud Bonnici before the Industrial Tribunal, justified the removal of Falzon by explaining that the contract of employment between the two sides was based on trust, but the pending case meant that the company lost all trust in him.
Mifsud Bonnici said that through the MATS credit card, not only were television sets bought for him and his friends, but he also paid for travel expenses to go visit his girlfriend.
He added that when the charges were leveled against Falzon, Malta Transport had no idea, and he had an obligation to inform his employers of what was going on.
Falzon's lawyer argued that in the eyes of the law, his client is still deemed innocent as there has been no concluding judgment so far. It was argued that Transport Malta could have suspended Falzon pending the outcome of the case.
Matthew Brincat, Falzon's lawyer, said his client was not aware of the charges against him until the police prosecuted and it was all out in the open. Brincat insisted it was not justified to fire Falzon without being given the opportunity to explain himself to his employer.
Brincat asked the Industrial Tribunal to find Transport Malta guilty of wrongful termination and to compensate his client €187,000 in wages he missed from being fired.
The Tribunal will announce its decision at a later stage.