Industrial Tribunal chairman resigns

Cardona, has resigned his post, following revelations by MaltaToday, that he was questioned by police over the alleged presentation of forged documentation during a civil case he instituted against his former son-in-law.

"The resignation was received last Friday, and was effective as of then," a justice ministry spokesman told MaltaToday.

All rulings by the Tribunal - many of which were expected to be handed on Monday have now been put on hold. Borg Cardona, has however not resigned from the Police Licences Appeals Board.

Last week MaltaToday reported that Borg Cardona Borg Cardona was called in for questioning by Inspector Ransley, on the strength of a decree issued by Magistrate Herrera, who ordered an investigation to be conducted against him over the alleged falsification of receipts.

The investigation was triggered after a medical consultant confirmed under oath that receipts presented by Borg Cardona for medical services to his grandson were forged.

The receipts were presented by lawyer Aaron Mifsud Bonnici, who when hearing the medical consultant confirm that the documents handed to him by his own client had been forged, immediately renounced defending his client.

In an application filed by Borg Cardona soon after this incident, he indicated that the document was seemingly forged by his 17 year-old grandson, and has paved the way for criminal action to be taken against him.

In his application, Borg Cardona explained to the Court that his grandson was "already duely disciplined for his actions".

Denial

The police have meanwhile denied that investigations into Borg Cardona were stalled, after Inspector Jonathan Ransley alleged receiving "orders from above" to stop all investigations regarding Borg Cardona.

In a note sent to MaltaToday, Commissioner John Rizzo said that Inspector Ransley's immediate superior - Superintendent Antonello Grech - did not issue any instructions  to cease or discontinue with the investigations ordered by Magistrate Scerri Herrera.  As for Assistant Commissioner Raymond Zammit, it transpires that he never spoke on this matter with Inspector Ransley.

According to Rizzo, "Superintendent Grech had only told Inspector Ransley to mark time with the investigation following complaints made by Borg Cardona regarding the way the investigation was being carried out by Inspector Ransley." 

According to the Commissioner, "this was done in order to evaluate the situation and direct further as to how the investigation should further continue.  All this happened a few days before Inspector Ransley had to tender evidence before the Magistrates' Courts."

The Police Commissioner said that this investigation is still ongoing.