The New York Times reports on a fresh European Commission investigation into John Dalli’s actions – this time, the Bahamas trip
European Union Starts New Graft Inquiry Into Tobacco Regulator
By JAMES KANTER
Published: September 26, 2013 – The New York Times
BRUSSELS — European Union investigators said on Thursday they had started a new investigation into the former senior official responsible for tobacco regulation, the latest turn in a high-profile case of alleged corruption.
The case focuses on John Dalli, a politician from Malta, who resigned last October from the European Commission as the official in charge of health and consumer protection after a preliminary inquiry into a Maltese businessman’s solicitation of a nearly $80 million kickback from the tobacco industry. Mr. Dalli has denied wrongdoing.
The affair was the biggest scandal to hit the commission since 1999, when the entire European Commission led by Jacques Santer, a former prime minister of Luxembourg, was forced to resign over allegations of fraud and mismanagement against some of his commissioners.
When allegations against Mr. Dalli last autumn reached José Manuel Barroso, the commission’s president, he forced Mr. Dalli to resign. Yet the commission did not find evidence to support action against Mr. Dalli. Maltese authorities started their own investigation, but said in June that they had found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Mr. Dalli has said he knew Mr. Zammit from his earlier career in Maltese politics but he has denied that they were close or ever business partners. Mr. Dalli has also sued the commission at the European Court of Justice, the highest court in the Union, for neglecting proper procedure and for violating his rights of defense. That case is continuing.
The new investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office, more commonly known by its French acronym OLAF, focuses on two or more trips Mr. Dalli took to the Caribbean last year that were first reported in July by the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. Mr. Dalli was still in his post as health and consumer protection commissioner when he made those trips.
In a statement Thursday, OLAF said it was “currently looking into new elements that have emerged in the context of media reports” in relation to Mr. Dalli. The office added that it did not comment on the nature or purpose of investigations, and it declined to offer more details.
Although OLAF does not conduct criminal investigations, its findings can result in severe sanctions for E.U. staff, including fines and dismissals. OLAF also can pass its findings on to national authorities that have prosecutorial powers that can lead to criminal sanctions. The media office for the Maltese police declined to comment by telephone on Thursday evening. The office had no immediate response to questions sent by email.
(PLEASE READ THE REST OF THE REPORT VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES LINK BELOW)
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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/world/europe/european-union-starts-new-graft-inquiry-into-tobacco-regulator.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
The damage to Malta’s reputation as a financial hub cannot be ignored.
Simon Busuttil was right in defining this administration as a facade.
Peter Paul Zammit, Chris Cardona, Muscat himself forced to play down scandals daily. What gets to me is how they’ll repeat this was ‘normal practice’ during GonziPN. You’re either better or as bad, right?
Schizophrenic politics, or the lowest of cynical tricks.
Latest brainwave.
http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=Studenti+se+jkollhom+jibdew+jitilg%26%23295%3Bu+G%26%23295%3Bawdex+darbtejn+fil%2D%26%23288%3Bimg%26%23295%3Ba&t=a&aid=99850971&cid=19
There they were, booing Lawrence Gonzi. At least, make it the one marathon session, or perhaps Karmenu Vella plans to up bednights.
Up yours FZL.
http://www.maltarightnow.com/Default.asp?module=news&at=Il%2Dpo%26%23380%3Bizzjoni+tal%2DKummissarju+tal%2DPulizija+Peter+Paul+Zammit+m%27g%26%23295%3Badhiex+aktar+tenibbli+%E2%80%93+Simon+Busuttil&t=a&aid=99850976&cid=19
At this stage, it’s feasible to start talking hardline opposition, let’s have them defeat motions in parliament. Let the rabble take over their benches.
If their game is to keep a straight face as they turn everything on its head, why not force them to it, measure the rot.
Surprisingly only Malta Today published this article which appeared on 26Sept. Both Times of Malta and Malta Independent ignored it alltogether.
What matters is that Joseph Muscat reads the article – whether he acts on it is an altogether different matter.
Given the date, he should have read it on the way to his speech at the 68th assembly at the UN buildings in NY. He can’t say he could not get the paper.
So the evil click at GonziPN still have the international press in their pocket I see…
And Labour’s Evil Click has a stranglehold on what were respectable newspapers and media.
Give us a break. – We can tell what they’re up to.
OLAF is probably wasting its time as, if it passes on information to the Maltese Police Force, Tweedledee’s and Tweedledum’s stooge will, after a suitable delay, say that there is no evidence for a prosecution.
OLAF is not the investigation arm of the Malta Police Force. If wrongdoing is found in Dalli’s trip to the Bahamas – and that would be the case even if his charity claims are genuine – then he could be stripped of the pension rights he retains as a former commissioner.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130927/local/pn-leader-calls-for-resignation-of-police-commissioner-says-pm-must-shoulder-responsibility.488008
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/dalligate/Busuttil-calls-for-Commissioner-of-Police-s-resignation-20130927
The Commissioner of Police makes no reference to the Attorney General, unlike his predecessor in court.
Does this mean that Peter Paul Zammit is not confirming the statement he had made in public that the AG had agreed with him that there was not enough evidence for a criminal case against John Dalli?
The quote below comes from MaltaToday, which I believe practically copies all the content of Mr. Zammit’s press release:
If the requirement for arraignment were really ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’, there would be no need for courts of law and nobody would ever be found by such courts to be not guilty.
Proof beyond reasonable doubt is required for conviction, not arraignment.
After the beatification of Sandro Chetcuti, Malta Taghna Lkoll Xarabank is planning to give a helping hand to Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando ‘s campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WyUv16fIBp8
U mela l-iskandlu ta’ Johnny Dalli!
Dalli’s guilt is blatantly obvious. This is shown in the way that he had miraculously recovered from his illness in Brussels just a few days prior to Labour’s victory.
This is blatant corruption.
If the Attorney-General has changed his view on whether John Dalli should be arraigned, he must say so, and explain why.
The time of lofty, meaningless statements by Muscat and his party/government is over.
I am convinced that the Attorney General will honour his position by giving his version of events very soon.
Don’t hold your breath.
prosit.
John Dalli is not only the Minister of Health. The influence he has on Joseph Muscat is such that he may well also be the Prime Minister.
Is he still a member of the PN?
[Daphne – Is that possibly a serious question?]
Yes.
[Daphne – It really doesn’t serve an answer.]
John Dalli is focused on the business side of his ambitions. He sees politics as an important enabler to achieve his goals as do many people who see party affiliation as a means to an end. He seems to be achieving this by remotely monitoring the Labour Party and again dealing in political influence for personal gain.
Why can’t Olaf involve Interpol and bypass the Maltese police?
[Daphne – Because it’s not a criminal investigation, but the equivalent of an internal investigation in a company.]
“Although OLAF does not conduct criminal investigations, its findings can result in severe sanctions for E.U. staff, including fines and dismissals.” so since passing its findings won’t get them anywhere, if found guilty the only punishment he can get is a fine from Olaf (at this stage), he is practically untouchable.
[Daphne – You can’t blame me for that. I didn’t vote Labour and I told everyone why not. But they thought they were smarter than me and better informed about the issues involved. There you go.]