“Just wait until they get him”

– Piju Camilleri on Lino Cauchi

MaltaToday Special report 'PIJU AND THE MID-MED BANK'

Shocking court evidence presented recently by a certain Joe Pace from Sliema alleges that Piju Camilleri, the tycoon and former Labour thug of having said some weeks before Lino Cauchi’s disappearance, "Just wait until they get him (issa jsibuh lil dan)."

Piju Camilleri’s accountant Lino Cauchi disappeared in February 1982 and his dismembered body was discovered in November 1985 in a Buskett well. No one has ever been prosecuted for his macabre murder, but mounting evidence collated by MaltaToday and others points uncomfortably to a number of directions.

The Joe Pace statement was presented in court recently in a case instituted against him in relation to serious corruption allegations.

Joe Pace states that he was forced and threatened to act in a fraudulent manner against Joe Borg because of pressure from Piju Camilleri and the late Lorry Sant (Labour works minister in the eighties).

The statement about Piju Camilleri, adds substance to reports as they appeared in MaltaToday in February of this year which described a fiery meeting between Piju Camilleri and Lino Cauchi in the presence of others.

On the matter Joe Pace said, "I remember that at the time there was an argument over how many plots Piju Camilleri for Luqa Development Company Limited would revert to Joe Borg according to an agreement that had taken place with Lino Cauchi’s participation.

"In fact Piju Camilleri had argued with Lino Cauchi because of some documents that had been presented and afterwards I had heard Piju Camilleri say this about Lino Cauchi after he had left; ‘Just wait until they get him.’

"I remember that after this event, Joe Borg leaving my home, saddened, depressed and one could say under a great shock after the experience he was made to endure."

Joe Pace explains, "In 1981 Lorry Sant had told me that soon a contract for a number of Fgura plots would take place. He told me to transfer them on my company, Terry limited. I told him that I wanted to avoid getting into more trouble. He insisted that I carry out what he said and not to argue. He threatened me and reminded me that Café Premier, Australia Café and Magic Kiosk were all on government land and I could very well wake up in the morning and discover that I had lost everything."

Joe Pace, continued, "I was present on the day when a contract was to be signed by Notary Saydon at my former office at 157 Merchants Str, Valletta. Also present for the meeting, there was Piju Camilleri, his brother Andrew together with an accountant that I later got to know was Lino Cauchi. Victor Balzan and Joe Borg were also present.

I was there because Lorry Sant had asked me to attend. The contract was prepared by Notary Saydon and the land was to be transferred to Piju Camilleri. A quarrel had taken place between Piju Camilleri and Joe Borg, and Piju Camilleri told me that the land should be transferred to my company Terry Limited and the Notary followed this up with a correction.

It is a fact that there were no negotiations on this transfer. But rather these were the intentions of Lorry Sant carried out by Piju Camilleri, which finally had been imposed on Joe Borg. Piju had threatened Joe Borg with his life if he did not sign the contract. I was also terrified because I was scared of Piju Camilleri. Joe Borg appeared to avoid signing the contract by raising several issues to prolong the matter. Finally, Joe Borg had to bow to his pressure and sign the contract without any payment for the transfer of plots."

Subsequently Joe Borg has initiated court proceedings against Joe Pace to retrieve his property. Joe Borg who was a crucial factor in exposing corruption in the eighties has faced a challenging task to get back what his rightfully his.

In the meantime the government continues to refuse to amend the archaic law which limits the time period under which judiciary action can be taken in relation to certain crimes. And Justice minister Austin Gatt continues to insist that there is no concrete proof to indict any person or persons involved in the disappearance of the late Lino Cauchi.

sist that there is no concrete proof to indict any person or persons involved in the disappearance of the late Lino Cauchi.