Joe Gaffarena gave a cheque of €1,500 to Net TV presenter Frank Psaila in return for a series of adverts aired on Mr Psaila’s programme Iswed fuq l-Abjad back in January not June. Last Sunday, General Workers’ Union newspaper it-Torca reported that Mr Gaffarena handed the cheque to Mr Psaila in June. A copy of the cheque seen by this newsroom is dated 19 January 2015.

In comments to this newspaper, Mr Psaila said that the issue of the Old Mint Street property involving Joe Gaffarena’s son Marco hadn’t surfaced because if it did, he would not have approached the Gaffarenas to advertise on his programme. He said he approached Gaffarena in January and this is when he was given the cheque. Mr Psaila said that he was not doing anything out of the ordinary by approaching businessmen for advertising to make up for his programme’s air-time costs.

The controversy surrounding Marco Gaffarena came to light in May where he allegedly made a hefty profit from a fast government property expropriation. An investigation is under way looking into the procedure used in this case. Marco Gaffarena was paid €1.65 million in lump cash sum and selected lands by the Government Property Division, as compensation for the expropriation of his 50% share in the offices housing the BICC which he purchased for as little as €150,000.

The Opposition has accused Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon of his alleged involvement in the deal, something Dr Falzon has strongly denied. Dr Falzon is responsible for the Government Property Division which deals with such expropriations. Dr Falzon said he signed the expropriation as Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the GPD.

Meanwhile, Mr Psaila – who had served as the PN director of information – told this newsroom earlier this week despite the fact businessman Joe Gaffarena advertised on his programme Iswed fuq l-Abjad, he still reported the Old Mint Street property controversy.

“I do not feel that just because one advertises on my programme, he or she should be given some form of protection,” he told The Malta Independent. Mr Psaila bought air-time from Net TV and said he had to finance his expenses via advertising.

Mr Psaila said that on 19 January 2015, he and Michael Fenech Adami approached Mr Gaffarena to see whether he was interested in advertising on his programme.

“Mr Gaffarena wanted to advertise his petrol station, some cars he imported and his car wash. We agreed that Mr Gaffarena advertises his businesses for four months – between March and June this year for the price of €1,500 including VAT,” he explained. “I issued an invoice as is required to Mr Gaffarena and a receipt as soon as Mr Gaffarena wrote me the cheque. I paid what was due to the VAT department,” he continued.