Parliamentary Secretary in the Justice Ministry Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici yesterday said he was not aware of the connection between the cleaning company Special Cleaners Limited and Mario Camilleri L-Imniehru, who was jailed for drug trafficking.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici was testifying before magistrate Michael Mallia during a libel case that he filed against Labour Leader Alfred Sant over the latter’s claims about the contract awarded to Special Cleaners Ltd to clean the Law Courts and also the office at his ministry.

He explained that he was not aware that the company which was awarded the contracts was in any way connected to Camilleri and took action immediately as soon as he discovered that the company was run by Camilleri’s wife and son.

He said that when he was informed about the connection, he sought ways and means to terminate the contracts that had been awarded and also sought legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici explained that in October last year, Vanni Galea, the Director General at the Law Courts, informed him that Special Cleaners Ltd, which had been awarded the contract to clean the Law Courts, was run by Camilleri’s son and wife.

He said he called Assistant Attorney General Peter Grech about the matter and he advised him that the contract could be terminated immediately and legally on the grounds that this cast a dark shadow on the courts. As a result, the contract was terminated.

Some time later, he explained, his secretary informed him that the same cleaning company had also been awarded the contract to clean the Parliamentary Secretary’s office at the Justice Ministry in Valletta. He said he immediately instructed his secretary to terminate the contract.

In his testimony, Dr Mifsud Bonnici vehemently denied having any form of relationship or connection to Mario Camilleri L-Imniehru, who served a jail term for his involvement in drug trafficking. He denied allegations made by Dr Sant during his press conference on 26 November last year.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici also denied trying to conceal any information on the matter and added that in the reply to a parliamentary question on 6 November, he had listed the company Special Cleaners Ltd.

The case continues.

Dr Ray Zammit appeared for Dr Mifsud Bonnici while Dr Pawlu Lia and

Dr Joseph Mifsud represented Dr Sant.