Former David Casa aide writes to OLAF over Casa finances

A former aide to Nationalist MEP David Casa who blew the whistle in a sworn affidavit on the politician’s cocaine problem, has lodged a request to the EU’s anti-fraud agency OLAF requesting an interview to share information on his former employer.

The aide has upped the ante by writing to Maltese Attorney General Peter Grech, as well as OLAF director-general Ville Itälä, saying he wished to furnish investigators with details related to his claims against Casa.

In his letter, the aide says he wants to report financial irregularities “that will shed light on the way Casa operated over the years.”

He said that as a long-time senior employee of the parliamentarian, he “looked forward to cooperating” by shedding light on the MEP’s finances and the way money from the EU’s budget for members was being utilised.

Last Sunday the former aide revealed in a sworn affidavit details of the euro-parliamentarian’s cocaine habit between the years 2009 and 2017. The two men have had a longstanding close relationship.

“What I have to state is prompted by my belief that the representatives of the Nationalist Party and of this nation should be represented by exemplary individuals of high moral integrity. At this very moment David Casa is giving the impression of being a model politician when facts prove the contrary.”

The aide recounted in his sworn declaration that he was in the presence of David Casa when the MEP would spend weekends in hotels – one in St Julian’s and another in Attard – and that during these stays, a particular person would arrive at the hotel to sell cocaine to Casa and that he would pay him in cash.

He said Casa would be surrounded by friends and also aides, with whom he would also share the drugs. He also declares that during these weekends Casa could spend between €600 to €700 on these sessions.

“He was so taken up by this drug habit that he would miss important political events and other private functions.

“There were also instances of drug taking in his office at the PN HQ but this did not continue after September 2017. His drug habits were well known to his entourage and most of his close aides and friends.”

The whistleblower is a longstanding Nationalist activist.

In a reaction to the allegation, David Casa “categorically and unreservedly” denied the claim, and attempted to discredit the whistleblower by saying he had been “weaponised” by the Labour Party.

He later said that he would submit himself to a drug test “on the condition that the Labour parliamentary group agrees to do the same.”

Casa 49, is the longest serving member in the European Parliament and was first elected in 2004 on the PN ticket.

Casa’s nine staff members declared in a statement that they had never witnessed any of the allegations made in the affidavit. “Throughout the duration of our employment with MEP David Casa, we have never witnessed any of the allegations published… We have always experienced exemplary, professional and dedicated behaviour from MEP David Casa, whose work ethic and commitment to his causes is why we choose to be employed in his office.”