The Marasaskala local council is under investigation by the VAT department in connection with undeclared income from the council’s magazine.
The council’s publication Max-Xtajta, had stirred a hornet’s nest because of the partisan content it carried, but Marsaskala residents have also complained to the VAT department about the lack of transparency surrounding the magazine.
In fact, mayor Mario Calleja never produced any receipts or accounts relating to its publication, not even when requested by fellow councillors.
Meanwhile the department of local councils has also been alerted about another publication that is very similar to Max-Xtajta, called Ix-Xatt, bearing the locality’s coat of arms and carrying similar content.
The new magazine was issued shortly after the official council publication was stopped abruptly amid public calls for transparency from the councillors.
The Labour councillors, who form the majority in the locality, have publicly distanced themselves from the publication, but the mayor – also from the same party – remained tight-lipped with his colleagues.