
Lawyer Jason Azzopardi’s efforts to initiate magisterial inquiries into Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri’s alleged involvement in corruption and money laundering have suffered a setback.
Three separate applications, filed by Azzopardi, were dismissed by Magistrate Brigitte Sultana, who concluded that the requests did not meet the legal criteria for such inquiries.
The applications raised serious allegations involving Camilleri, his wife Deborah Camilleri, and ministry officials.
The first application referred to road works in Nadur, the second concerned berthing rights in Mġarr, and the third related to the construction of a swimming pool at the Gozo Sports Complex.
In all three cases, Azzopardi sought the seizure of mobile phones, servers, and devices to preserve evidence. However, the magistrate deemed these requests “extremely generic” and noted that they raised doubts about the reliability of the information presented.
The magistrate also pointed out that not all of the alleged offences carried a penalty of more than three years in prison, which is a crucial requirement for initiating a magisterial inquiry.
Azzopardi’s claims of a “web of corruption, money laundering, and bribery” were dismissed due to the lack of specifics on how these crimes were committed.
The magistrate emphasised that there was no evidence of money laundering or bribery, nor was any documentation presented to support claims of unexplained wealth.
Azzopardi had also referred to various media reports to back his allegations, but the magistrate ruled that these reports did not constitute legal evidence. The information presented was considered to be merely journalistic opinion, and the anonymous sources involved could not be used as valid evidence without proper authorisation.
The latest series of requests by Azzopardi was rooted in concerns regarding a significant overrun in the budget for a project involving the construction of a swimming pool at the Gozo Sports Complex.
This was the third time Azzopardi had filed a request targeting Camilleri. The first had connected Camilleri and his wife to alleged corruption in the distribution of mooring locations at Mġarr Harbour, while the second focused on the road works project in Nadur, which went over budget by approximately €10.5 million, bringing the total cost to €18.5 million.
Despite the dismissal of these inquiries, Minister Camilleri has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he is the victim of political persecution.
He has further defended both the swimming pool and the Nadur road projects, arguing that the assessments of cost overruns did not account for other related contracts essential to the completion of the projects.
The legal setbacks for Azzopardi highlight the challenges faced by private citizens seeking to initiate magisterial inquiries into alleged misconduct. Nonetheless, the allegations surrounding Minister Camilleri and his ministry are likely to continue to fuel public debate and scrutiny.
#MaltaDaily