Prescription stops investigation into Marlene Mizzi's allegations on Galdes
'Difficult to understand how prescription has been lifted for political corruption but not for ethics breaches' - commissioner
Updated 2.49pm
The Standards Commissioner has declared he cannot investigate claims that former Housing Minister Roderick Galdes meddled in the running of government-controlled Malita Investments, because of prescription.
Monentum leader Arnold Cassola had requested the investigation after Marlene Mizzi, chairperson of Malita until May 2024, claimed Galdes had tried to interfere in the management of the listed company and was hobnobbing with contractors who were engaged by the company in social housing projects.
Galdes denied the claims.
Cassola made his request for an investigation in November last year.
The commissioner, Joseph Azzopardi, replied on Tuesday that in terms of the law his office could not investigate events that occurred more than a year previously. In this case, the claims appeared to relate to the time when Mizzi was chairperson, 18 months previously.
The former chief justice reiterated his calls for the prescription period to be extended. He said it was difficult to understand how prescription had been lifted for political corruption but not for ethics breaches.
The bill setting up the office originally provided for a 'far more reasonable' two-year prescription limit from when allegations surfaced, with no limit on when the facts actually occurred, Azzopardi noted.
Responding to the development, Cassola said the one-year prescription agreed upon by both parties was "working marvellously to cover up for the alleged misdeeds of ministers".
Highlighting legal amendments tabled in Parliament yesterday that will formally abolish ministerial asset declarations, Cassola said that together with the one-year prescription period, "the cover-up will now be complete".
"Transparency and accountability towards citizens is being thrown to the dogs".