Independent candidate Arnold Cassola said Friday that he has noticed two strange matters in the report compiled by the Standards Commissioner on the use of a ministerial car abroad.

On Thursday, the Standards Commissioner ruled that Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett did not break any rules when he used his ministerial car on a trip abroad. But this does not mean that the use of ministerial cars abroad is good practice, the commissioner remarked.

The commissioner, former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, said he will not investigate the matter further and, as such, his office will not be publishing his report. The report was however made public by independent candidate Arnold Cassola, 

In a letter he sent to the commissioner Friday, Cassola said the contract pertaining to Bonett’s ministerial car contains the following clause: “European break-down service coverage, additional insurance, and a surcharge of Lm25 daily for the duration that car is in use outside Malta”.

Is it normal that, so many years after the adoption of the euro, the government signs contracts denominated in the Maltese lira, Cassola asked.

The document showing insurance payment is dated 31 December, 2022, while Bonett had used the ministerial car for a private holiday on November 2022. Cassola noted that the receipt was issued five weeks after the trip abroad and a month after he (Cassola) had filed the original complaint with the Standards Commissioner’s office.

Insurance as always paid before the trip, Cassola remarked.