Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531564
GOZO Minister Clint Camilleri has called former Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi's latest request for a magesterial inquiry an at- tempt to "tarnish him with every means and tool possible". On Wednesday, Azzopardi filed a request for another magisterial inquiry into Camilleri, this time regarding the alleged inflation of costs of an Olympic-sized swim- ming pool at the Gozo Sports Complex. This is the third application filed by Azzopardi for an investigation into Camilleri. He previously filed an application concerning a road in Gozo that went over budget by €10 million, wherein he request- ed that Camilleri be investigated. He also filed another applica- tion requesting that Camilleri, as well as his wife, be investigated regarding claims of corruption at Transport Malta in Gozo. In his latest application, Azzo- pardi made several references to articles published by Malta Today, The Shift and The Times of Malta regarding the development of the Gozo pool, with one particular article stating that the cost of the sports complex almost doubled after the tender was awarded. Azzopardi noted that these ar- ticles of investigative journalism were never contested. But Camilleri insisted that the €9 million price tag quoted in the court filings related to just one of seven tenders related to the swimming pool complex. "Of course, the project cost more than that… The other six tenders for the project's completion are being ignored," Camilleri said. He said that all tenders for var- ious works related to the swim- ming pool project had been published on the government's e-portal and any contractor could have submitted an offer. Azzopardi application, which also requests an investigation into Gozo Permanent Secretary John Borg, provides that there exists a prima facie basis that var- ious crimes were committed by both the Minister and Permanent Secretary for Gozo. These crimes allegedly include conspiracy, corruption, abuse of public office, embezzlement, money laundering, and complic- ity in the commission of a crime. In his statement, Camilleri also referred to a previous inquiry re- quested by Jason Azzopardi into the Nadur-Ghajnsielem connect- ing road. Azzopardi had requested the inquiry follwing reports that the road project ended up costing €10 million over budget. The minister insisted the road actually ended up €5.3 mil- lion cheaper than the allocated budget of €22.3 million. "This is just one of several facts that I will be explaining when asked to do so," he said. Camilleri insisted the three magisterial inquiries requested by Azzopardi in his regard where akin to "political persecution" and that "everyone will have to be accountable for their actions". Azzopardi's application fol- lows the tabling of a motion in parliament to amend the Crimi- nal Code, thereby reforming the manner in which a magisterial inquiry may be requested by an individual. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2025 • ISSUE 029 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday €1.00 Gozo minister rebuts claims on new sports complex pool listed in new inquiry call Clint Camilleri (inset top) accused Jason Azzopardi (inset bottom) of political persecution over the latter's request for a magesterial inquiry into spending on the pool at the new Gozo Sports Complex