Court partially lifts asset freeze in Mr. Clean case

Joseph Degiorgio, 71, from Balzan, Paul Degorgio, 47, from Lija, Christopher Degorgio, 42, from Naxxar and Josianne Bugeja Degorgio, 34, from Balzan had been charged, as officials of MCCS Co. Ltd (Mr Clean), The Maltese Falcon Recruitment Services, Servizi Malta Ltd and Melita Health Services, with the trafficking of 31 Filipino nationals, as well as with incorporating or financing a criminal organisation, forming part of a criminal organisation and misappropriation.

The court was asked to revoke a freezing order imposed on Servizi Malta Ltd, which had been included in the charges against the Mr Clean directors. The court was told that the Degorgios were not the company's directors, rather that Servizi Malta was a consortium in which MCCS Ltd held shares.

The company had been unable to pay its employees' salaries after being hit with the freezing order. Servizzi Malta's assets had been frozen as a result of the charges against Mr. Clean's directors, leaving it unable to pay salaries. Servizzi is simply a shareholder in the company

Servizi Malta Director Claudine Ellul Sullivan told Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera that Servizi was a consortium in which MCCS, Bad Boy Cleaners and Italian firm Armonia held shares. The two companies were actually competitors, said Ellul Sullivan, adding that just a few months ago, Servizi Malta and Mr Clean had competed for an Oncology Hospital tender which was eventually won by Mr Clean.

She said Servizi Malta has some 450 employees, many of whom are foreigners. Around 370 employees work at Mater Dei Hospital and 50 to 70 others work at the Malta International Airport. MCCS and Servizi Malta did not share employees, she said.

Servizi Malta is registered at the same address as MCCS “but only for correspondence purposes,” explained the witness, adding that employees of Servizi Malta were being affected by a situation that had nothing to do with them or their employer.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said a formal decree on that issue would be issued on Monday, upholding a request to partially lift the asset freeze and allow the company to pay its workers, after lawyer Joe Giglio, on behalf of Servizi Malta Ltd. None of the company’s directors were accused in this case, pointed out the lawyer.
The court ruled that the amount salaries are to be immediately unfrozen, until it decides on the request to revoke the freezing order.

Lawyer Franco Debono, appearing for three of the accused, said he would make a request for MCCS to be allowed to pay its workers.

Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Josianne Bugeja. Lawyers Marion Camilleri, Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia, are defence counsel to the other accused. Lara Dimitrijevic and Ann Maria Bisazza are appearing parte civile. Andrew Borg Cardona and Dr Giglio are appearing for Servizi Malta. Inspectors Joseph Buttigieg and John Spiteri are prosecuting.