Taking to social media to address concerns and a request for investigation on the possible abuse of public funds by the ADPD, Transport Minister Clayton Bartolo issued a statement clarifying that this was not the case.

ADPD had asked the Auditor General to investigate the abuse of public funds by the film commission after the Minister and his now wife Amanda tied the knot.

In a letter to the Auditor General, ADPD Deputy Chair Carmel Cacopardo highlighted The Shift’s report, which revealed that the minister’s wedding took place at a venue arranged for the Malta Film Awards and funded by taxpayers.

However, Bartolo denied these claims, saying that everything was paid for by him and his wife, and that the venue was Couvre Port and not the fort.

Saying that he did not wish that his wedding turns into a political issue, he reiterated that that everything used for the ceremony was issued from his and his wife’s pockets.

‘Unfortunately, there are people who think that because you are a minister you are a criminal’, he said, going on to ask for a public apology by those who requested the investigation.

In a later post, Bartolo added that those who requested the investigation should resign if the accusations are found to be untrue.

‘It is natural that if it is found that I made unjust use of public funds as is being alleged I will be required to resign. If this is the case, I will not be the one to ruin the credibility of Robert Abela’s government.’

‘And so it is equally natural that if it is found that these allegations are untrue, then the entire administration of ADPD should resign.’

#MaltaDaily