A company owned by an AFM Lance Bombardier who is currently seconded to the Malta College for Science and Technology has been given a direct order contract by the Gozo Channel.
Stephen Ciangura’s security company - Executive Security Services Ltd - has been given a three-month services contract with the Gozo ferry company, a parliamentary question has revealed.
Ciangura was in the news back in 2016 when a private security company he owns with his mother was linked to the PlusOne stampede. The AFM had told this paper that he did not have approval to carry out private work.
Ciangura, a Lance Bombardier, has been seconded as a personal chauffeur to MCST Chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando for a number of years.
Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana was responding to a Parliamentary Question posed by PN MP Chris Said, where he requested details of contracts the Gozo Channel has with private contractors.
One of the companies listed for 2017 is Executive Security Services Ltd, which received €41,666.65 excluding VAT per month for providing their services. According to the Minister’s answer, Ciangura’s company is providing 20 sailors aboard the vessels.
The contract was given by direct order.
Originally, the response reads, one quotation was sought that was approved by the Finance Ministry for the period between 28 April and 28 July 2017. “For the subsequent period, three quotations were sought and the lowest one was from the existing contractor. The new contract is for three months that began operating from 29 July 2017. This direct order has approval from the Ministry of Finance.”
Ciangura and his mother were among several people arraigned following the PlusOne incident. This after a Magisterial Inquiry had found that one of the bouncers involved in the fracas was employed by Executive Security Services Ltd.
The Armed Forces of Malta confirmed with The Malta Independent that up till yesterday Ciangura still holds the rank of a Lance Bombardier and is still seconded to the MCST. “Ciangura has never been given any approval to perform any private work, or to occupy an executive role in any company,” the AFM added.
The private security company was registered in 2008 with his mother Therese Ciangura being the director of the company but he (Stephen Ciangura) owns the majority of the shares.