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MMA bribery scandal: Minister stood up for his investigated "pal"

In Parliament Joe Mizzi reveals details of Censu Galea's relationship with MMA official

Kurt Farrugia 20 June 2007

The person being investigated at the maritime authority (MMA) on alleged bribes in the issuing of mariners’ licence is a “pal” of Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea, who is politically responsible for the authority, was divulged in Parliament on Tuesday.   Speaking in Parliament, Labour whip Joe Mizzi exposed how Censu Galea stood up for his friend at the MMA on various occasions when the superiors at the authority wanted to get rid of him because they suspected foul play.   “They [MMA heads] did not have the strength to remove him as Censu Galea kept him there,” said Mr Mizzi. MMA offices Mr Mizzi also said that the minister lied to Parliament when replying to the Labour whip’s questions on irregularities at the MMA, Galea had answered: “I am not informed of any of what Mr Mizzi is saying.” This was during the plenary on 5 June 2007. But Sunday newspaper Maltatoday said on 17 June that the MMA chairman Marc Bonello referred the matter to the police, the Communications and Competitiveness Minister and the prime minister on 24 May 2007.   The Labour whip revealed also that on the day when the minister said knew nothing of what was going on, the man being investigated was at Censu Galea’s office, before the Parliamentary session. Joe Mizzi also said that the same person has also visited the minister the day after.   Quoting precise datelines of the MMA bribery scandal, Mizzi said that when on 23 April, he had first asked in Parliament about foulplay at the maritime authority, there was panic at the authority. He then said that on 25 April, when he revealed more on the MMA irregularities, the minister did not reply to questions because “the persons involved are friends of the minister.” “They have been abusing in that office for a long time, walking in drunk and doing whatever they wanted but because he is the minister's "pal", no one could take action, not even his superiors,” Mr Mizzi said. Censu Galea with MMA chairman Marc Bonello Giving further details Joe Mizzi said that at the Small Ships Licensing department, which is being investigated, abuse was rife. He said that the office was manned by a man, which heads the office, and a woman.    Joe Mizzi also said that he had informed the parliament of the abuses at the MMA only after he had seen a photocopy of a false certificate, signed.   When he started raising the issue in Parliament, the head of the Small Ships Licensing department, a woman employee and a cleaner [who was not aware of what was going on] started shredding documents, placing them in black plastic bags and discarded them in a skip.   Joe Mizzi mentioned other cases of bribery, from the judiciary to the police, to ADT, MMA and Mepa and said that this is “institutionalised dirt”. ”People’s money is being lost. This is corruption,” the Labour whip said.