Roads agency Infrastructure Malta has refused a Freedom of Information request filed by independent candidate Arnold Cassola to obtain copies of documents such as tenders, direct orders, and agreements related to the Marsa junction project.
The project has come under the microscope after media reports indicated that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating the project due to possible corruption. It is alleged that there were corrupt practices between Infrastructure Malta – then led by Fredrick Azzopardi – and the Turkish firm led by Robert Yildirim who won the tender, with alleged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech acting as a middleman.
Cassola last week gave police investigators a cache of Whatsapp messages between Fenech and Azzopardi which he says supports these claims. Azzopardi however reacted saying that the timeline of the messages doesn’t add up to that of the Marsa project.
Amidst all this, the roads agency has now refused a Freedom of Information request related to the project which was filed by Cassola six weeks ago.
Cassola sought copies of documents, such as tenders, direct orders, agreements which Infrastructure Malta made with Robert Yildrim and his companies and payments given; any form of communication with Minister Ian Borg and Infrastructure Malta CEO Fredrick Azzopardi regarding Ayhanlar difficulties in completing the project/ Robert Yildrim's involvement in the Project; copy of minutes of meeting of Board of Directors of Infrastructure Malta when the Marsa Project, Aylanhar, Mr Robert Yildrim, Shining Star Infrastructure and Construction was discussed and a copy of resolution of Infrastructure Malta Board of Directors authorising the re-assignment of the tender to Mr Yildrim's Shining Star Infrastructure and Construction.
He said that this request was filed “in order to shed light on the murkiness regarding the Marsa Junction deals.”
“However Infrastructure Malta has preferred to foster its culture of secrecy and hide essential information,” he said.
Cassola stated: "Infrastructure Malta is giving a blanket refusal to all my requests. Why all this secrecy? What is Infrastructure Malta trying to hide away from the Maltese people?”