Jason Azzopardi files urgent request for magisterial inquiry into alleged Gozo ministry racket

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi claims Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and his wife have knowledge of racket involving Mġarr harbour mooring spots 

Mġarr Harbour (Photo: Maltatoday)
Mġarr Harbour (Photo: Maltatoday)

Updated at 17:52pm with reactions

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi has filed an urgent request for a magisterial inquiry into an alleged criminal racket involving the Gozo Ministry and Transport Malta.

The scandal, he claims, also involves Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and his wife, Deborah Camilleri.

"This is a classic case of computer misuse and corruption that has been ongoing for months, with Minister Camilleri and his wife at the heart of it," Azzopardi stated in his application.

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

Azzopardi's allegations centre around a racket where government jobs and highly sought-after mooring spots at the Mġarr harbour in Gozo were being handed out fraudulently. 

According to Azzopardi, Toni Caruana, nicknamed Żbibu, a resident of Qala, would promise jobs or mooring spots to individuals in exchange for monetary kickbacks or other gifts, often meeting them in the village square or local band club.

Caruana's son, Christoph, who until recently served as the head of Customer Care at the Gozo Ministry and was part of Minister Camilleri’s private secretariat, would pass on these requests to Marcel Meilaq, a public officer at Gozo’s Transport Malta office. 

Meilaq, also from Qala and close to the minister, was described by Azzopardi as the "essential link" that enabled the racket to reach its "corrupt end."

Azzopardi claimed that Minister Camilleri was aware of the goings-on and was thus an accomplice, although he did not have evidence that the minister derived any monetary benefits. 

Transport Malta (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
Transport Malta (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

Instead, Camilleri allegedly gained political mileage by securing electoral votes through these illicit activities, "The father and son Caruana’s actions took place with the blessing and approval of the Minister," Azzopardi emphasised.

Deborah Camilleri, the minister's wife and a top manager at Transport Malta Gozo, is also under scrutiny for embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. 

Azzopardi alleged that she regularly practiced her private legal profession before the Gozo courts during office hours, which could make her liable for prosecution for money laundering.

Azzopardi presented court documents showing that Deborah Camilleri assisted private clients before the Gozo court on at least 11 occasions during her office hours at Transport Malta. 

Court minutes attached to his application revealed that she appeared before two different magistrates on the same day and even before the same magistrate in two separate cases on the same day.

Azzopardi has called upon the magistrate to seize electronic devices, including phones and servers at Transport Malta Gozo and the Gozo Ministry, to preserve evidence before it is lost. 

He urged the magistrate to investigate the suspected individuals for their roles in the alleged criminal organisation, including trading in influence, false declarations, fraud, forgery, money laundering, and bribery of public officials.

"This is a clear case of corruption and abuse of power, and it is crucial that we act swiftly to uncover the truth," Azzopardi concluded.

Minister denies allegations

In a short statement, Clint Camilleri denied the allegations made against him, asserting that he "categorically" denied any wrongdoing

Abela - ‘Line has been crossed’

Reacting to the allegations, Prime Minister Robert Abela condemned the Nationalist Party and Jason Azzopardi, for targeting Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri's wife, Deborah. 

Abela emphasised that the Labour Party will no longer tolerate such abuses of magisterial inquiries, stating the "line has been crossed"

Abela said: "The Nationalist Party’s extremist faction, through Jason Azzopardi, wants to send the mother of two small children to prison, just because she happens to be the wife of a minister."

The Prime Minister said he has ordererd the Justice Minister to finalise the reform into magisterial inquiries "so the abuse is stopped once and for all."

PN accuse Abela of ‘fearing the truth’

The Nationalist Party have accused Abela of "fearing truth and justice", citing widespread corruption and abuse of power within his government.

They highlighted cases like Vitals, 17 Black, and the Panama Papers, arguing Abela's actions are those of someone cornered and fearful of exposure.

The PN vowed to resist these changes, protecting citizens' rights to seek truth and justice

Repubblika condemns Abela’s threat

Repubblika condemned Abela's threat to restrict citizens' rights to request magisterial inquiries, arguing it would remove the legal right to insist on magisterial evidence collection when the police fail to act.

They noted that without this right, there would never have been the prosecution of Joseph Muscat on corruption in the sale of hospitals.

Repubblika sees this as a backsliding of the rule of law and has appealed to citizens to resist this threat and protect the judicial system.

Robert Aquilina, the local representative for anti-mafia organisation Fondazione Falzone, said Abela is protecting his "criminal associates" with his reform announcement.

"The law grants citizens the right to take action when there is a compromised Police Commissioner by going directly to the Magistrate on Duty. This is what we have done repeatedly, leading to the opening of several important inquiries."

"Robert Abela wants to take away this right from the Maltese and Gozitan citizens. He wants to do so to ensure that once he installs a puppet as Police Commissioner, no one will be able to take action against the criminal behavior of politicians."

Transport Malta to collaborate with competent authorities

Reacting to allegations in the media which it said it is following, Transport Malta said it will collaborate with competent authorities to establish facts related to the claims made.