Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1039277
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 OCTOBER 2018 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In his affidavit, the former aide says he is taking this difficult step in the interests of the truth and what he be- lieved is right. He recounts in his sworn declaration that he was in the presence of David Casa when the MEP would spend week- ends in hotels – one in St Ju- lian's and another in Attard – and that during these stays, a particular person would ar- rive at the hotel to sell Casa cocaine and that he would pay him in cash. He describes how 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. "During these sessions he would be very talkative and hyper and a lot of alcohol would be consumed and there would be endless smoking of cigarettes with those present. "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 long- standing Nationalist activist who has based his statement on his first-hand experiences by the side of the MEP. In a reaction to the allega- tion, David Casa told Malta- Today: "I categorically and unreservedly deny this ob- scene allegation." In the rest of his long state- ment, Casa attempted to discredit the whistleblower, imputing that he had an asso- ciation with the Labour gov- ernment. "Weaponising a troubled former disgruntled employee in this manner is a new low even for the Labour Party, and taking cognizance of it is a new low for MaltaToday. "The aide to whom you infer was moved out of my office after his gambling problem and the considerable debts it generated caused him to seek loans from dangerous people and to attempt to make good for those loans by involving his colleagues. "I am extremely saddened by the realisation that the situa- tion must have deteriorated to such an extent that he felt no option but to be used in this manner and I hope that he seeks the help he needs." David Casa 49, is the longest serving Maltese member in the European Parliament and was first elected in 2004 on the PN ticket, this is his third legislature. Casa also claimed he had "been aware of his presence in the company of Labour strategists", namely the Prime Minister's spokesperson Kurt Farrugia. "[I] have been ex- pecting bizarre allegations to surface, this particular allega- tion is obscene." sbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt "He was so taken up by this drug habit that he would miss important political events and other private functions" Close aide's sworn affidavit: €700 spent on weekend 'binge'