Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532025
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 31 JANUARY 2025 NEWS C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Ghawdex Inhobbok 25.5x18.pdf 1 07/01/2025 12:14 KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Magistrates throw out inquiry requests by Jason Azzopardi saying they were filed in the wrong court TWO magistrates have turned down requests for a magisterial inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by Gozo Minister Clint Camill- eri, saying they were filed in the wrong court. Magistrate Ian Farrugia and Magistrate Antoine Mifsud not- ed the alleged crimes were car- ried out in Gozo. Those identi- fied in the requests objected to the jurisdiction in which they were filed, saying they were filed in the wrong court. Speaking to MaltaToday, law- yer Jason Azzopardi said they will be filed at the Gozo Court on Wednesday. The applications, filed by Az- zopardi, had been requested in December. The first request for magisteri- al inquiry concerned an alleged criminal racket involving the Gozo Ministry and Transport Malta. The scandal, Azzopardi claimed, involves Gozo Minis- ter Clint Camilleri and his wife, Deborah Camilleri. Jason Azzo- pardi's allegations centre around a racket where government jobs and highly sought-after moor- ing spots at the Mġarr harbour in Gozo were being handed out fraudulently. The second request concerned the alleged inflation of costs of an Olympic-sized swimming pool at the Gozo Sports Complex. The application provided there exists a prima facie basis that various crimes were committed by both the Minister and Permanent Sec- retary for Gozo, including the crimes of conspiracy, corruption, abuse of public office, embez- zlement, money laundering, and complicity in the commission of a crime. The court has now turned down three requests for a magisterial inquiry by Azzopardi, after an ap- plication for an investigation into several land transfers made un- der the watch of Lands Authority CEO Robert Vella. Azzopardi had filed an urgent court application on 30 Decem- ber accusing Vella of money laundering, bribery, corruption, trading in influence and criminal association. In his request, he re- ferred to various media reports of land transfers made under Vella's watch that saw prime public land sold to the private sector for a pit- tance. Jason Azzopardi said he will file the new requests on Wednesday