Silvio Scerri denies any involvement in Norman Vella transfer case

Scerri was testifying in a libel suit he instituted against the popular TV and radio presenter John Bundy last June.

Scerri (at right) was testifying in a libel suit he instituted against John Bundy
Scerri (at right) was testifying in a libel suit he instituted against John Bundy

Silvio Scerri, chief of staff at the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security, vehemently denied any knowledge or involvement in the transfer of Norman Vella before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale this morning.

Scerri was testifying in a libel suit he instituted against the popular TV and radio presenter John Bundy last June.

Bundy is alleged to have publicly stated that it was Silvio Scerri, and not Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who had ordered former TVHEMM presenter Norman Vella to be reassigned to the immigration department at the Malta International Airport.

Describing the allegations as “a barefaced lie”, Scerri told the court “these unfounded allegations are based on the belief that people can be transferred upon a demand made over the telephone. The civil service does not work this way.”

“I was never involved and Vella never fell within my remit. These decisions regarding postings out and into the civil service are the direct responsibility of the OPM.”

Robert Abela, in cross-examination, asked whether he had looked into the matter since the dismissal; Scerri said that he hadn’t, as neither did he feel the need to do so at the time, nor does he feel it necessary, to this day.

Scerri claimed to have not been aware of it being reported in the media that Kevin Mahoney, a permanent secretary at the Ministry for Internal Affairs and National Security, had admitted to taking the decision in separate proceedings before the Industrial Tribunal.

“I was so convinced that it was not under my ministry’s remit, that I have doubts as to the accuracy of the reporting in this regard. “

Scerri said that Bundy had asked him “as a friend” to mediate on his behalf as he wanted to present a programme on PBS, and that he had learned about the issue with Norman Vella through the media. Abela pointed out to Scerri that “we have a movement of a person between two departments under your remit and you claim to have absolutely no idea about it.”

Asked to explain in what manner he had suffered damages, Scerri testified that he felt defamed as in his opinion, Bundy invented the story for the sole purpose of attacking and hurting his reputation.

 “Bundy had lied when he said that I had called someone up and asked to transfer Vella. Moreover, he invented a whole backstory that I called up this certain Anton …he ridiculed the entire ministry by insinuating that this is how things happen in the ministry. Bundy attributed something to me that I had nothing to do with and thereby gave me a bad name.”

Scerri was asked whether he was aware that Vella had made the first statement about him. “All I care about is that I was mentioned and it is not true. In the article which I exhibited, the part that interests me most is the part where Bundy alleges that I picked up the phone and ordered the transfer, the rest is not important to me,“ he replied.

Scerri claimed that he was contacted by the Times to give his side of the story only after the story was published. Scerri, however, did not feel the need to request a right of reply.

Following the article carried by the Times, MaltaToday also published a story about the issue, and this led him to take action, he claimed.