PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier facing criminal charges on VAT

PN  secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier is to be charged in court on 14 October, for failing to file his VAT return in time, MaltaToday reports today in an exclusive story published in its Sunday edition.

A writ by the VAT Commissioner, seen by this newspaper, has asked the Commissioner of Police to file criminal proceedings against Borg Olivier on VAT evasion charges.

Specifically, Borg Olivier is being charged with not having filed his VAT return within the 75-day deadline after the end of the August 2006 tax period.

He will be appearing in the court of Magistrate Doreen Clarke.

The offence carries a fine of anything between €700 and €3,500, but if convicted Borg Olivier can request a total or partial remission of the penalty, provided that the prosecution and the VAT Commissioner agree to such request.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister told MaltaToday the prime minister “did not intervene” with the Commissioner of VAT over the procedures that were about to be taken against the secretary-general, when specifically asked.

In comments to MaltaToday sent via email a week after questions were made to him, Borg Olivier said he had regularised his position with the VAT department.

“I was not secretary-general at the time,” Borg Olivier said, referring to the fact that the VAT number is registered in his personal capacity as a lawyer.

Borg Olivier did not reply to MaltaToday’s questions as to whether he felt his position was now untenable given that he is the subject of criminal proceedings.

Only this week, parliamentary secretary Chris Said resigned his post over criminal charges he faces for perjury, saying that “it was correct politically and serious” of him to stand down.

Borg Olivier also set much store on ethical standards when he demanded that Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech, resign his post for admitting to criminal charges under police interrogation.