Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/507285
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION WEDNESDAY • 6 MAY 2015 • ISSUE 414 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY €1.00 EDITORIAL PAGE 10 NEXT JACKPOT THE DOCTOR www.maltco.com Helpline: 2388 3333 Newspaper post Giovanna Debono resigns from PN but not from parliament Former Gozo minister resigns from PN but to stay on as independent MP following MaltaToday reports on alleged misappropriation of funds by her husband MORE ON PAGE 3 MATTHEW VELLA ANTHONY Debono, 59, the husband of former Nationalist minister Giovanna Debono, was yester- day arraigned in a Gozo court on charges of having used the ministerial budget to commission private works for constituents. Debono was granted bail after being accused of having misappropriated over €5,000 in public funds by virtue of his employment; of having prof- ited, to the tune of over €5,000, from public monies and private contractors; used his official capacity as a civil servant, to his own private advantage, in dereliction of his public duty; rendered himself an accomplice in the falsification of public docu- ments for the issuing of payments and goods; and abused of his public role and of public acts en- trusted to him. He was also accused of preventing a person from giving the necessary evidence to an author- ity, on 27 April and in the preceding days. Debono pleaded not guilty to the charges. Anthony Debono charged with misapprorpriation of public funds following MaltaToday reports Debono, 59, the husband of former Nationalist minister Giovanna Debono, was yester- day arraigned in a Gozo court on charges of having used the ministerial budget to commission private Newspaper post 3 year: 3.00% 2 year: 2.85% 1 year: 2.50% FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank is a participant in the Depositor Compensation Scheme in Malta. Terms and conditions apply. 2132 2102 helpdesk@easisave.com www.easisave.com 2132 2102 2132 2102 No Hidden Fees or Bank Charges Easy, Flexible and Secure Visit our website, open your online bank account and start beneting from superior interest rates on your savings and xed term deposit accounts. 3 year: 3.00% 2 year: 2.85% 1 year: 2.50% Euro Fixed Term Deposit Minimum Deposit €1,000 Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Euro Savings Account Minimum Deposit €50 1.75 % CONTINUES PAGE 7 YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT 46/%":t."3$)t*446&t16#-*4)&%&7&3:8&%/&4%":"/%46/%": €1.40 YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT CAFÉ PREMIER PG 6 Lawyer says he declared conflict of interest upon learning of government deal GOZO CONSTITUENTS OFFERED FREE CONSTRUCTION, PAID BY MINISTRY maltatoday REVEALED How Anthony Debono, the husband of the former Minister for Gozo, commissioned private contractors to carry out work for constituents, provided them with construction material and covered their costs from the budget of the Gozo ministry SAVIOUR BALZAN A devious scheme to provide con- struction work done for free for con- stituents in Gozo has been revealed by a Gozitan whistleblower, Malta- Today can report. The scheme was coordinated by former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono's husband Anthony. The whistleblower has claimed that the scheme was purposely aimed at people who were potential voters of the former minister. It in- cluded construction work organised months before the last election in 2013 and executed even on election day itself. The scheme involved private Gozi- tan building contractors who were commissioned by Anthony Debono, who was employed at the Gozo min- istry, to carry out cement, concrete and construction works on quarries, private homes, roads and garages to constituents at no cost to them. No tenders were issued for the work carried out and neither did the contractors have a letter of accept- ance to show for the work done. To be paid, the private contrac- tors would have to invoice the Gozo ministry on work which they did not carry out but under other projects that fall under the remit of the works department of the Ministry for Gozo, where Anthony Debono was the officer in charge. File photo showing Anthony Debono (left) next to former minister Giovanna Debono at the opening of parliament in 2013. Anthony Debono yesterday refused to answer questions when contacted. Giovanna Debono, told about the matter, said it was the fi rst time she was hearing about it, she had no knowledge of it, she said, so could not comment. Feminism. It's not a dirty word Karl Wright, new head of the Institute of Maltese Journalists INTERVIEW 14-15 Karl Wright, new AN END TO CRIMINAL LIBEL CAFÉ PREMIER PG 6 says he declared conflict of interest upon learning of government deal Gender inequality remains sadly evident in popular media PG 11 CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 Anthony Debono, arraigned on funds misappropriation charges Waning star, Giovanna Debono