Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1511521
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 NOVEMBER 2023 2 CLAIRVOYANT Mr TOURE a Marabout clairvoyant medium healer and Exorcist with an exceptional gift. Specialising in disenchantment, voodoo protection against dangers, couple problems return of a loved one, impotence and sexual issues whatever the nature. Court cases. Tel: +35677484511 KURT SANSONE GOVERNMENT has offered educators pay increases that amount to less than next year's cost of living adjustment, the Nationalist Party education spokesperson claimed. Justin Schembri said govern- ment's proposals forwarded to the Malta Union of Teachers were a far cry from the 'sub- stantial increases' promised during the election. "Government has proposed a miserable pay packet with an increase that is less than the COLA increase," Schembri reiterated on Tuesday during a press conference on the ed- ucation sector. The COLA next year will amount to a weekly increase in wages of €12.81, amounting to just over €700 per year. Reacting to Schembri's state- ment, the ministry slammed Schembri's 'irresponsible' statements. The Opposition MP's allega- tion was denied by the govern- ment, who said the claim was a "lie". "Such untruthful statements do nothing more than show a lack of ethics and respect to- wards educators at this very delicate moment. Instead of the Opposition showing sensi- tivity and maturity, it decided to blur figures that are untrue and are far from what was dis- cussed at the negotiating ta- ble," it said. Schembri did not elaborate and MaltaToday was unable to independently verify the claim but the MUT has ordered in- dustrial action over what it says is a government proposal that falls far short of what had been promised. On Monday, educators start- ed observing directives is- sued by the union, including no meetings with parents, no meetings on IEPs, no work on assessments and no student attendance. A one day strike is scheduled for 27 November. A conciliatory meeting be- tween the MUT and govern- ment on Monday was incon- clusive and the parties will be meeting again this week. However, the union warned it will only participate in these meetings if government pre- sented an improved financial proposal. Schembri hit out at govern- ment for being stingy with ed- ucators, accusing it of reneg- ing on its electoral promise to substantially improve the work and pay conditions of educators. Schembri was flanked by PN MPs Bernice Bonello and Charles Azzopardi in the press conference. During last year's election both major political parties pandered to educators' vote by promising better pay and improved work conditions. The sectoral agreement for educators expired last De- cember and talks between the union and the Education Min- istry have been going on for nine months. Educators offered pay rise less than COLA increase, PN spokesperson claims but ministry says its a 'lie' Marsaxlokk priest had €300,000 discrepancy between bank balance and declared income PN education spokesperson lambasts government's 'miserable' pay increase offered to educators in collective agreement talks PN education spokesperson Justin Schembri MATTHEW AGIUS A representative from the Tax Compliance Unit has told a court that there was a €300,000 discrep- ancy between the declared income of suspended Marsaxlokk parish priest Fr. Luke Seguna and the contents of his bank accounts. Several witnesses testified before Magistrate Rachel Montebello on Monday, amongst them a repre- sentative from the Tax Compli- ance Unit. Seguna, who is charged with mis- appropriation, money laundering, fraud and forgery, had been placed on administrative leave by the Cu- ria pending criminal investigations into the provenance of hundreds of thousands of euros deposited in various bank accounts and his col- lection of five motorbikes and two cars, despite his relatively meagre income as a clergyman. He denies having misappropri- ated some €500,000 donated by 150 parishioners over a span of ten years. Seguna is also believed to have spent some of the money he had received from parishioners, on internet porn. In court on Monday, the Tax Compliance Unit witness said that the case had been referred to the unit by the police's Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID). Asked by lawyer Alex Scerri Herrera, who is assisting the de- fendant, as to what deposits and outlays had been identified to the unit, he said he could not divulge that information. Cross-examined by lawyer Ste- fano Filletti, appearing for the Archdiocese of Malta as parte civile, it emerged that the unit had identified a €300,000 discrep- ancy between Seguna's declared income and his bank deposits, which amounted to €460,000, all of which had been deposited in his personal accounts. Asked whether the balances had increased or decreased over time, the witness replied that they had remained more or less the same. This indicated there was outlay, said Filletti. "What about income?" The sources of income were, for the main part, parish-related: amongst them a monthly €10 de- posit scheme, contributions for a devotional niche and a tombola, said the witness. This means that the parish funds were deposited in his personal ac- counts, the lawyer pointed out. Asked where the money went, the witness said that some of the transactions were parish-related, but most of them were personal, in particular spent at restaurants and supermarkets. Scerri Herrera argued that the purchases from supermarkets could not be itemised and accu- rately classified. Filletti replied that while this was true, it was also a fact that the points of sale at which the transac- tions were registered were mostly restaurants and supermarkets. The witness explained that the unit could not find evidence of commercial trading activity, and so the investigation fell outside their remit as tax was not applica- ble. The case continues. Prosecutors Ramon Bonett Slad- den and Andrea Zammit prose- cuted representing the Office of the Attorney General. Lawyers Jose Herrera, Alex Scer- ri Herrera and Matthew Xuereb are defence counsel. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Christina Sutton are representing the Malta Archdiocese.