The Nationalist Party today presented a list of 20 points which, it says, provide circumstantial evidence of corruption in the Lands Department-Marco Gaffarena property deal that led to the resignation of parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon.
Speaking at a press conference, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Jason Azzopardi said that this was more evidence that the government, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, is embroiled in corruption scandals.
Dr Azzopardi insisted that the PN has always directly used the Auditor General’s words in its statements on the issue, which all indicate corruption. The PN’s position is that, when one reads the report, one can “logically deduce” that the current government is corrupt, going so far as to say that it is “the most corrupt government in political history”.
The 20 points listed by Dr Azzopardi were as follows:
· There was manipulation in official minutes.
· For the first time, it wasn’t the government which started expropriation, but it was instigated by Mr Gaffarena
· Estimate values for the two properties including payment for the second quarter happened before Mr Gaffarena had bought the second quarter.
· Mr Gaffarena bought the second quarter of the property because he knew that it was going to be expropriated.
· The politician, Michael Falzon, met Mr Gaffarena at Castille and then sent the “King of Lands”, Clint Scerri, to accompany him.
· The government never considered any alternatives to buying half the property.
· OPM accepted Mr Gaffarena’s suggestion that half the building was well-suited for a museum or a ministry.
· There was no public purpose for the government to buy half the property.
· The politician did not, at any point, attempt to verify if there was a public purpose for the expropriation.
· Nothing tangible was actually bought, only two undivided quarters from Mr Gaffarena.
· The Auditor General never found any minutes for any meetings held with Mr Gaffarena.
· The Lands Department lied to the Auditor General when it said it didn’t have the funds to buy more than just one quarter; in reality it had enough for the entire property.
· The politician signed twice in two months for an undivided quarter to be bought by the same person when there was no verified public purpose.
· It was never taken into consideration that the building had historical significance, which would have reduced the price.
· The politician was advised various times from high officials within the Lands Department who expressed ‘great reservations’ and ‘serious thought’, including the Commissioner of Lands expressing himself in writing at least three separate times.
· The deals happened quicker than usual.
· There was reported ‘collusion’ with Mr Gaffarena.
· It was Mr Gaffarena himself who chose which lands he wanted from the Government.
· OPM and the Lands Department declared to the Auditor General that they had never discussed any public purpose which there could have been to the expropriation.
· The politician was criticized by the Auditor General that he failed to assure the national interest was observed.
After the presentation, Mr Azzopardi then asked again if the police are extending their investigation to include the OPM after the publication of the report.
Nationalist candidate Hermann Schiavone said it is clear that Gaffarena had control on the Lands Department, Castille and the police.
PN using harsh words simply to attract attention
In a reaction, the Labour Party said that the Nationalist Party are saying the same things over and over again because it has no plan for Malta and Gozo.
“The Maltese public can now see how the Government, instead of speaking only, is shouldering responsibility. The PN has no moral authority to speak about good governance.”
The PL insists that Busuttil is using harsh words in politics simply to attract attention.
“Simon Busuttil keeps on repeating because he has nothing to offer, apart from waving handkerchiefs”.