Education Minister Justyne Caruana and the permanent secretary in her ministry Frank Fabri should both resign after the Standards Commissioner ruled there was an abuse of power in the handing out of a contract to Daniel Bogdanovic, the minister’s partner, NGO Repubblika said.
In a press conference in Floriana, NGO president Robert Aquilina said that the report drawn up by the commissioner should be published immediately, although details from it have already been leaked.
Parliament’s Standards Committee should not ridicule the process as was done with the recent case involving former parliamentary secretary Rosianne Cutajar, the NGO said.
Aquilina said that Prime Minister Robert Abela has remained silent on the matter.
The commissioner had ruled that the case could have potentially also broken the criminal law, and the police should open an investigation. We potentially have a minister, and a candidate at the next election, who is facing six months in prison if found guilty of the crime, Aquilina said.
He also criticised the police for not starting an investigation earlier, but doing so only after the commissioner had compiled the report.
He added that police inaction showed that nothing has changed with Angelo Gafa' as police commissioner.
Aquilina said that instead of seeking new ways to improve Malta's education department, Caruana prioritised making sure her close friend gained €15,000.
In the standards commissioner's report, Hyzler said that there was an effort in hiding Bogdanovic's incompetencies. In fact, it was Paul Debattista, one of Caruana's consultants, who did the work for which Bogdanovic was paid.
Aquilina also said that Fabri knowingly signed the fraudulent contract and never answered questions made by Standards Commissioner George Hyzler.
Aquilina said there should be no place for such behaviour in any ministry, especially the education one where it should be lead by example.
Aquilina added that in allowing Caruana to contest for the next general election, the Prime Minister is sending the message that the Labour Party accepts such behaviour.