The sum total of contracts given by the Water Services Corporation to Polidano Brothers over the past seven years amounts to Lm338,000 or Lm48,000 a year, the Ministry for Investments said in a statement.

This sum was given on 41 different contracts, averaging Lm8,000 a contract; 16 of which were allocated on a ballot exercise, and 20 contracts given by local councils or ADT (41 per cent of all contracts given to Polidano).

Over the same seven years, there were only four cases where Polidano was chosen by WSC and the total of these contracts amounted to Lm46,000. Over the same period, Polidano tendered for 21 and did not qualify.

Over the past five years WSC has fined Polidano a total of Lm17,000 for damage sustained.

So much then for the mud-slinging campaign trying to link WSC chief Michael Falzon to Polidano, the ministry said.