Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1254350
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 JUNE 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Despite complaining to their TACA supervisors, the workers said that the situation has persisted. "They say they have no money. They are not interested in us," they said. The workers were gathered together when MaltaToday visited the construc- tion site, and work was not taking place. At this stage, they said they wanted to be paid and leave Malta to go back home to Turkey. "We just want to be paid and go home." Some of the workers also complained that their living conditions were not ideal, and that cleanliness was lacking. MaltaToday reached out to TACA – which, apart from the Fortina project, is undertaking other development pro- jects in Malta – for comments. Fortina Investments said that all its fi- nancial obligations to TACA had been honoured. The company underlined that the con- struction workers were in the employ of TACA, not of Fortina. Fortina added that it was disappointed that TACA had allegedly not been paying its workers, and said that it was treating the matter very seriously. "Fortina Contracting Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Fortina Invest- ments, has honoured and is in line with all its financial obligations to TACA Construction for the approved civil works undertaken on the development to date, and is very disappointed that the Turkish company has allegedly not paid its workers the wages that are due to them. Fortina is treating this situa- tion with utmost seriousness and is do- ing everything it can to ensure workers' rights are safeguarded." In comments to MaltaToday, Fortina group's CEO Edward Zammit Tabona said that Fortina had always paid TA- CA, and had in fact even given pay- ments in advance. He stressed that it was TACA which had failed to pay the workers their dues. In the years of Fortina's operation, it had never once missed any payments to anyone, Zammit Tabona said. "Fortina to date has paid TACA Construction over and above the fees for the certified works on site, at times even paying suppliers di- rectly on their behalf in order for progress to keep on moving onsite," he said. He said Fortina had been made aware of this situation recently and had been pushing TACA to resolve their issues concerning workers' salaries – includ- ing engaging with the Turkish com- pany through its legal team. "Fortina has made it clear with TACA that no form of compromise is acceptable with worker's rights, and that alleged issues should be resolved forthwith," Zammit Tabona said. TACA's employees have stopped works on site, he noted, adding that "Fortina has solicited TACA to present a proper plan rectifying the situation and is yet to hear from TACA." "They say they have no money, they are not interested in us" Bail for man charged with trafficking, gun possession, underage sex MATTHEW AGIUS A man who stands accused of having sex with a minor, traf- ficking cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and being in posses- sion of a firearm and ammuni- tion, has been released on bail. Josef Zammit, 28, from Bormla was charged in May and had been in police custo- dy since being denied bail on his arraignment. He also stands accused of money laundering. Zammit was arrested in the company of his 15-year-old girlfriend, allegedly whilst in possession of drugs and around €6,000 in cash. More drug-related items, the firearm and cash were found by the police in later searches on two properties in Bormla. Several witnesses testified during the man's compilation of evidence, which continued despite the COVID-19 clo- sure of the courts. A request for bail was filed by his lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri. Decreeing his request for bail this morning, Mr Justice Aar- on Bugeja noted that the po- lice had objected to the man's release as there were still wit- nesses to be questioned, as well as due the man's untrust- worthy character. His lawyers had argued that the fact that investigations were still underway was not a valid reason to deny a person bail. Mr Justice Bugeja noted that the court of magistrates had handled the proceedings effi- ciently, but pointed out that there were legal mechanisms that come into play once criminal proceedings are filed by the police. These mechanisms, which safeguarded the accused's right to a fair trial were based on the presumption of inno- cence and could not be ig- nored, said the judge. Zammit was released on bail against a deposit of €10,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000. He was ordered to sign a bail book daily and ob- serve a curfew. Additionally, he was barred from commu- nicating in any manner with his father. Inspectors Kevin Pulis, Roxanne Tabone and Lianne Bonello prosecuted. Work at the Fortina site is ongoing