News • 08 December 2002

A junior minister who accepted money for tenders paid by his own ministry

Police investigations discontinued in 1998

By a MaltaToday insight team

Tarxien - Joe Cilia, Labour MP and former parliamentary secretary for Youth and sport is angered by MaltaToday’s investigations. But so is the Labour Party with him for the revelations that will only contribute to embarrassing the anti-Europe party further.

During his short term in office, Notary Joe Cilia issued tenders to individuals who carried out jobs and then directly passed on 50 per cent of the profit to Dr Cilia. MaltaToday has confirmation that these payments were accepted by Notary Cilia.

Joe Cilia refused to comment to our reporter when contacted yesterday and simply said “I do not have to talk to you, and I expect to see my letter in MaltaToday.”

MaltaToday’s investigations on Notary Cilia kicked off after an article that appeared in last Sunday’s MaltaToday. It confirmed that the police had not continued to investigate a report of an alleged harassment case on a woman by a person in a car that at the time was in Notary Cilia’s possession.

Notary Cilia has vehemently denied the allegations but has failed to explain why the blue Mazda car DAS 654 that was in his possession at the time should not have been linked to the alleged harassment.

Strangely, for reasons unknown to this newspaper, a senior police officer at the time did not continue with his investigations on the alleged harassment, and it was only after a series of enquiries by MaltaToday that the case was reopened. The Commissioner of Police, John Rizzo is said to have taken a personal interest and involvement in the case

Requests to the Home Affairs Minister for the reasons why the police had not continued with investigations in 1998 when the allegations were first made, were left unanswered despite repeated enquiries.

This is not the first time that the former parliamentary secretary Joe Cilia has been at the centre of such limelight. MaltaToday today publishes the Joe Cilia chronicles on page seven and eight.

His history of mishaps is the probable reason why Alfred Sant failed to appoint him Spokesman for Youth and Sports, opting instead, for the young MP Carmelo Abela.

As Parliamentary Secretary, Notary Cilia was also known to be on bad terms with his political senior at the time, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.

In an election run-up, Mr Cilia is anxious to avoid any bad publicity which may give the edge to his main rival and newcomer, financial advisor Alfred Mifsud.

Unfortunately for the Labour party, disciplinary measures by the Vigilance and Discipline Board cannot be taken unilaterally by the board. As was the case with allegations about Prof Louis Buhagiar it is very likely that the Vigilance and Discipline Board will only act if there is a court decision. A prerequisite that is conveniently applied to avoid deliberating in allegations of unethical behaviour by MLP politicians.

Related articles:

Joe Cilia reacts to allegations of harassment

The Cilia chronicles