Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando retaliated to Sant’s allegations in uncustomary style yesterday evening, uncovering how two former Labour ministers and candidates failed to declare earnings from apartments rented out to the Freeport.
Pullicino Orlando was reacting to Alfred Sant’s revelation yesterday that land that he had rented out to third parties had been earmarked for the development of a discotheque.
Pullicino Orlando reiterated he had nothing to hide and that everything he did was above board: “Accusations of corruption are not on,” told MaltaToday.
Pullicino Orlando hit back, revealing how deputy MLP leader Charles Mangion and MP Karmenu Vella had not declared their full earnings to the Inland Revenue Department when they were ministers.
Pullicino Orlando said in that in 1995, the company Mirca Properties had rented three apartments to Malta Freeport corporation. Both Karmenu Vella and Charles Mangion signed the agreement. Mirca Properties Ltd has as equal shareholders Karmenu Vella and Charles Mangion.
The rent varied from Lm8,001 to Lm12,000 a year. And the Malta Freeport would issue cheques to the two individuals.
He said that, according to MFSA records, the company did not carry out any business in 1997 but the facts show otherwise, and the Malta Freeport had in fact issued payment amounting to Lm9,468.
Pullicino Orlando added that, during the same period, the company registered Lm5,803 in expenses.
In separate comments given to MaltaToday earlier last week, both Karmenu Vella and Charles Mangion said that they had declared all their earnings from Kappara Properties Ltd and Mirca Properties Ltd.
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