Government & Politics
Minister urges for probe into MMA bribes speech
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 12, 2007 - 3:16:57 PM

Minister for Competitiveness and Communications Censu Galea has written to the Permanent Commission against Corruption to investigate another speech made by Member of Parliament (MP) Joe Mizzi in Parliament on Wednesday. The speech concerns the case of two Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) employees allegedly accepting bribes to issue nautical licenses, which is currently being investigated by Police.

The two employees were charged last month with receiving money and gifts to issue irregular licenses over a number of years leading up to June 2007.  

In his sixth letter to the Commission, the Minister called for the investigation to be conducted in the shortest time possible.  

When he spoke of the case in previous instances, Member of Parliament (MP) Joe Mizzi was challenged by the MMA to repeat the allegations outside parliament where he will not benefit of the privilege of protection. In a statement on Thursday, Dr Galea told the Commission that the investigation is required because it appears that the MP has no intentions of repeating his discourse outside of parliament and thus no legal proceedings can be taken in his regards.

Investigations concerning the alleged bribes began on the 24th May after the MMA informed the Ministry of Competitiveness and Communications was informed of suspected irregularities tied to the process of the issuing of nautical licenses. 

The suspicions arose after the Authority noted discrepancies in some documents.