Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/550022
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 AUGUST 2015 News 3 Home Affairs Minister silent on inquiry findings as Ray Zammit receives 'warning' MIRIAM DALLI IN his role as head of the local enforcement agency, Ray Zammit has received "a warning" from Jus- tice Minister Owen Bonnici in the wake of the Judge Michael Mallia inquiry report; but no action has so far been taken by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela against Zammit, who also happens to be acting director at the Corradino Correctional Facility. The Opposition has called for Zammit's resignation from both posts following publication of the report of the inquiry led by Judge Mallia. But based on Bonnici's re- ply, Zammit is there to stay at the warden agency. "We now look forward to keep delivering the promised change in local enforcement," a spokesper- son for Minister Owen Bonnici told MaltaToday. "Judge Mallia concluded that Ray Zammit's conduct was cen- surable but not serious. He added that, had Mr Zammit still been a member of the Police, he would have suggested the imposition of a warning," Bonnici's spokesper- son said. "Despite the fact that Zammit no longer forms part of the Police, the minister, after taking cognizance of the inquiry and its conclusions regarding suggested disciplinary proceedings, warned Zammit not to repeat such conduct." On the other hand, the Home Affairs Minister has so far chosen to stand aloof from the contro- versy, arguing that the report was "being analysed by the competent authorities". "The inquiry by Judge Mallia was sent by the Prime Minister to the Attorney General and the Com- missioner for Police, the com- petent authorities responsible to analyse the outcome of the report and take all actions deemed nec- essary. The internal police inquiry is still ongoing," a spokesperson for Abela said. MaltaToday asked the minister to comment about the fact that Daniel Zammit was removed from the Economic Crimes Unit by Commissioner of Police John Rizzo, who stationed him in Val- letta, and then was reposted in the ECU on ministerial pressure in 2013. The spokesperson added that the same reply applied to former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit. Following the publication of the Mallia inquiry, the opposition denounced the government's "si- lence" on the report, arguing that the least that the Home Affairs Minister could have done was re- act to the findings. "It is unacceptable that 24 hours after the publication of the re- port on the Zammit family's ties to shady characters, the Home Affairs Minister remains silent," PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said on Friday. The conclusions of the Judge Mallia inquiry into allegations about the Zammits – former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit, his sons Daniel, a former police inspector, and Roderick, an inspector in the police force – were published on Thursday after being commissioned by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Mallia found that Ray Zammit's action was "censurable" but that his actions were not "entirely se- rious". "As for Ray Zammit, he cannot be subjected to any disci- plinary steps but had he still been part of the police force he would been subjected to a warning," the Judge said. Contrary to his two sons, Ray Zammit was said to have not given any contribution to the Gaffarena business company, and thus his behaviour was not viewed as seri- ous enough. Read more on page 12 PN warns 'discriminatory' pension plan will leave people in poverty TIM DIACONO THE government's proposals to reform the pension system will still leave a band of elderly people at risk of poverty, the Nationalist Party warned. According to the plan, the monthly minimum pension will rise from €590 to €620. Its intro- duction will be staggered and only pensioners aged 75 years or older will benefit from its introduction in 2016. Shadow social solidarity minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici told a press conference that this measure is dis- criminatory against pensioners on the €590 pension who are younger than 75 years and she called on the government to raise the minimum pension for everyone next year. She also questioned whether a monthly €620 pension would be a high enough increase to allow pen- sioners a decent standard of living, rubbishing claims that the govern- ment cannot afford to increase it further. "The government managed to find €3.5 million to buy half a property in Old Mint Street and €4.2 million to buy the Cafe Pre- mier," she said, referring to two re- cent government controversies. She warned that 34% of the Mal- tese population are at risk of pov- erty, higher than the EU average, and that the figure is on the rise, despite Labour's pre-electoral pledge to eradicate poverty from the islands. However, questioned what the monthly minimum pension should be, she simply replied that it should be higher than €620. PN deputy leader Mario de Mar- co called for a "mature" debate on the feasibility of introducing a sec- ond pillar pension, quoting Cham- ber of Commerce president Anton Borg as having suggested a volun- tary second pillar scheme. He also urged the government to offer stronger fiscal incentives for people to save for a private pen- sion, arguing that recent initiatives in this regard have proven unsuc- cessful. Perm sec's advice on HSBC acquisition 'never overruled', Azzopardi insists MIRIAM DALLI A €2.2 million acquisition of HSBC premises in Valletta in- cluded the outright sale of al- most half the property, former lands minister Jason Azzopardi said. Contacted by MaltaToday, Azzopardi also insisted that neither he, nor former finance minister Tonio Fenech, ever overruled permanent secretary Alfred Camilleri on the matter. Camilleri had advised against the deal. "At no point were Fenech and I involved in the negotiations. I would be more than glad if the government were to publish the full file because there is nothing that can put me to shame. As far as I can recall, Camilleri's reser- vations were taken onboard and implemented by the end of the negotiations and, by the end of the deal, Camilleri gave his con- sent as well. "I am sure that neither I nor Tonio Fenech overruled Camill- eri," Azzopardi said. Last Sunday MaltaToday re- vealed that Camilleri – perma- nent secretary in the finance ministry – had criticised the way negotiations for the acqui- sition of the HSBC property on a sub-emphyteutical basis had developed which "would likely result in adverse comment by any third party observer and, most likely, would not escape the negative censure of the Na- tional Audit Office and the Pub- lic Accounts Committee". "[...] given that I am not con- vinced that government would not be paying more than it should for the acquisition of these premises if this proposed deal is approved, I feel duty- bound not to recommend the approval of this acquisition," Camilleri had told Azzopardi. Azzopardi also said that it was "untrue" that the property had been acquired in a disastrous state, although admitting that some €250,000 was needed to upgrade mechanical and electri- cal installations. "Fenech told Camilleri to quantify the expense and de- duct it from the final payment to HSBC. I believe that we had reached a stalemate until HSBC finally caved in." Despite a 'tale quale' condition in the contract, HSBC also re- quested a lump sum of €350,000 for the movables. "I am not aware of this but I have no problem in govern- ment publishing the full file," Azzopardi reiterated. "What I'm certain of is that the gov- ernment had spent €2.2 million on a property centrally located in Valletta… almost half of the 1,500 square metres acquisition was freehold." Mario de Marco (centre), flanked by MPs Paula Mifsud Bonnici and Robert Cutajar