The contractor-turned-whistleblower in the ‘works-for-votes' case was the president of Gharb Rangers football club at the time when its facilities were upgraded through this ‘scheme’ managed by the Gozo Ministry, a court heard today.

It also transpired that former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono had given her clearance to her husband Anthony, who was in charge of the Construction and Maintenance Unit within her ministry, to carry out works without the approval of his superiors.

This evidence emerged during the hearing of 59-year-old Anthony Debono who is pleading not guilty to 13 charges. Mr Debono, is accused of using public funds to carry out works in private properties belonging to his wife’s constituents.

During today’s sitting, Gharb Mayor David Apap Agius who has been at the helm since 1997, testified that about 10 years ago, the council had asked for the ministry’s financial support for three projects. These were the upgrading of the Gharb Rangers FC football pitch, a five-a-side pitch at the primary school and a concrete platform to be used by the feast committee.  

The mayor said, that it was standard procedure for Gozitan councils to try and seek funds from the central government, through the ministry which would then direct them accordingly. In this case he said that they had been referred to the CMU.

Whistleblower Joseph Cauchi

Mr Apap Agius, pointed out that at the time he was also club secretary and contractor Joseph Cauchi, who turned whistleblower in this scandal was club president. The witness said that a month after the last general election he had received a call from Mr Cauchi, complaining he had not been paid for these works. Mr Apap Agius told the court that the whistleblower had warned him in an arrogant tone, that if he would not help him, he would not be re-elected in the following council election.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Joe Giglio, the witness said that requests for works are still being made to this very day. He noted that a few days ago he had filed a request for some works, with the new head of the CMU, (also named Anthony Debono known as In-Niksu).

“So before you used to go to the accused and now you are going to In-Niksu?” the defence questioned. “Yes,” the mayor replied.

The former head of the Projects and Development Department within the Gozo Ministry, Joseph Portelli, today also took the witness stand. He said that his entity was responsible for the public works department, as well as the CMU while noting that in certain cases works overlapped.

Mr Portelli who was in this post until March last year, said that once he had drawn the attention of the Gozo Minister (Giovanna Debono) that any works approved by her husband, also needed the directorate’s consent. However, he said that the minister told him that she had given her “clearance” for Mr Debono to carry out such works.

Under cross-examination, Mr Portelli said that he had never actually warned the accused in this respect. “Probably, I only made a passing remark to Mr Debono,” he said.

The defence also quoted from a document called the performance and management programme, which included the job description of Mr Debono. Dr Giglio pointed out, that his duty was to assign works, deploy staff and ensure that projects were carried out up to standard.

The court also heard two witnesses who had approached the accused asking him to carry out some works, while he was still at the helm of the CMU. In the first case, a woman testified that she asked for surfacing of a road, which she said was “hastily” done a few days before the last general election.

The second witness was the owner of a farm in Kercem, who requested the department to make his property accessible by road. In this case the works were only carried out recently, when the accused was no longer in charge.

Both witnesses, however, stressed, that Mr Debono had not asked them for any money, or other favours, nor to vote for his wife.

The final witness was a stone contractor who said that the accused had never asked him to supply material to private properties.

Meanwhile the defence informed the court that it had been granted access to the police file, following a decree issued by Magistrate Neville Camilleri who is presiding this case.

Inspector Ian Abdilla is leading the prosecution. The case continues next April.