Giovanna Debono, and her husband Anthony, rear, arrive at court. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The works-for-votes scandal hinges solely on the claims made by a contractor turned whistleblower as nobody else ever approached the police with similar allegations, a court heard yesterday.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio made this point during proceedings against Anthony Debono, the husband of former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, who was indicted last month.

During cross-examination, Sergeant Marcelle Mifsud from the Economic Crimes Unit said apart from the whistleblower, nobody else had approached the police with similar claims against the accused, not even ministry officials.

She also confirmed that she had heard the whistleblower complaining that Mr Debono owed him money for these works.

Dr Giglio pointed out that the police were basing their case solely on the claims being made by Joseph Cauchi, a contractor from Għarb who was granted protection under the Whistleblower Act.

Mr Debono, 59, from Nadur is facing 13 charges which include fraud, misappropriation and the falsification of documents, among others. Up to the last general election, the accused headed the Construction and Maintenance Unit within his wife’s ministry.

Mr Debono is accused of using public resources to carry out works in 22 private properties between 2006 and Election Day in 2013, at a total cost of about €50,000. The case is being heard at the Gozo court before Magistrate Neville Camilleri.

During yesterday’s session, police officers who were involved in the investigation took the stand. It emerged that on April 2, the police toured the 22 different locations mentioned by Mr Cauchi, who accompanied them with his car.

The police toured the 22 different locations mentioned by Mr Cauchi, who accompanied them with his car

Sergeant Mifsud testified that at the end of the tour, the whistleblower handed the police a file consisting of 23 remittance advices. He also gave them some workings allegedly drafted by the accused, on how the contractor should have presented the invoices to get paid for these works.

Subsequently they traced the respective payment vouchers to the ministry, Sergeant Mifsud testified.

Superintendent Paul Vassallo who also took the stand testified that on April 17, the police had visited a quarry in Nadur. He recounted how a certain Sunta Debono from P&J Debono Construction Limited had given them several receipt books related to these works, which the prosecution yesterday exhibited in court.

Meanwhile, the court ruled that a temporary order issued last May to freeze the assets of Mr Debono, would remain in force.

The decision was made following a request by the defence for a definite ruling, with Dr Giglio saying the temporary order was “crippling” his client.

The case continues on August 26.