Nationalist Party councillors on Mosta council yesterday defended fellow councillor Joe De Martino against Labour Party claims being made about him, accusing the Labour Party of a campaign of mud-slinging.

A statement by PN councillors Jimmy Camilleri, Joe De Martino, Shirley Farrugia, Nicola Fenech Adami and Marthese Mifsud said the Labour Party were well aware that the official responsible for the council’s finances and administration was the executive secretary. But the MLP was trying to blame Mr De Martino, the former mayor.

Up until March, the councillors said, Mosta council had not had any reports of financial fraud from the public auditor.

Now that there were reports apparently showing shortcomings by the executive secretary, the PN councillors had not only agreed to suspend the secretary, it was Joe De Martino himself who seconded the suspension motion, they said.