Former Transport Minister Ian Borg has said that he was not involved in an alleged corruption racket at Transport Malta – a racket which was exposed in court on Monday.

An unnamed government minister was linked to a corruption case surrounding driving theory tests involving three Transport Malta officials.

Transport Malta director for the Land Transport Directorate Clint Mansueto, former Żebbuġ Labour councillor Philip Edrick Zammit and Raul Antonio Pace were all charged on Monday. All pleaded not guilty.

Under police questioning, Mansueto told police that he was pressured by a minister, who was not named in court, into helping certain individuals pass their driving test. The individuals allegedly were working on the minister’s villa.

Answering questions by The Malta Independent, Borg – who served as Transport Minister, meaning that Transport Malta was under his remit, at the time that two of these officials were suspended from the authority in connection with this investigation – said that he was not involved.

“Keeping in constant touch with the Directorates falling under one's political portfolio forms part of the responsibilities of any minister,” Borg said through a ministerial spokesperson.

“The directorate headed by Mr Mansueto was no exception. Minister Borg found Mr Mansueto a person of good character and hard working - this without entering into the merits of the subjudice case, to which Minister Borg has no further details,” the spokesperson said.

“Minister Borg always forwards complaints, requests for assistance or suggestions he receives to the CEOs and Directors concerned for their consideration as they would with any similar communication received directly by the entities concerned, without suggesting or pressing for any preferential treatment or wrongdoing,” he added.

“With regards to the particular claims you are referring to, he has no recollection of such episode, nor has he ever had "Arab nationals" working at his residence. He does not own any villa either,” the spokesperson concluded.

Police said in court on Monday that Mansueto had told them that he was pressured by a minister, who was not named in court, into helping certain individuals pass their driving test. The individuals allegedly were working on the minister’s villa.

The police also managed to trace a text message from the minister complaining of difficulties faced by a certain individual. His phone also revealed chats with people linked to a political party, with a list of individuals who needed to pass their driving test.

Neither the minister in question, nor the aforementioned political party were mentioned in Monday’s sitting.

The compilation of evidence against the trio, where the evidence will be explained in more detail, will kick off in two weeks.