News | Sunday, 28 June 2009

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Police asked to investigate CPD ‘abuse’ of impounded cars

Matthew Vella
The Principal Permanent Secretary has forwarded allegations on the improper use of impounded vehicles inside the Civil Protection Department, to the police for investigation.
An anonymous letter received by Godwin Grima was passed on to the Commissioner of Police, after allegations were made that the CPD was using the services of a particular company to re-spray and repair cars impounded inside its Marsa compound.
The company, Markcar, is delegated by the Malta Transport Authority to transfer seized cars to the CPD compound when registration tax is not paid upon their importation.
According to the allegations, the company that transports the cars to the CPD has also been entrusted, on an irregular basis, to handle the occasional spraying and maintenance of these cars. Since the cars are used regularly by CPD members who take them home with them, the costs are billed to the department itself.
CPD director Peter Cordina told MaltaToday that the vehicles are the property of the government, and are transferred by the owners via the ADT.
“Instead of paying the registration tax, which can cost thousands of euros, owners can forfeit the car by transferring its ownership to the CPD itself, via the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).
“Everything is perfectly legal. Markcar is delegated to transport vehicles seized by the ADT to the CPD compound in Marsa, which is the depot for seized vehicles. The CPD makes use of these vehicles when they are released by their owners. In fact they are given government number plates for such use.”
But Cordina also said that the company is also entrusted with maintenance and repair works that is outsources by the CPD. “Generally, the department does all its maintenance and repair works on its vehicles, especially fire engines and rescue vehicles. But the work is so voluminous that sometimes we have to outsource part of this work. In accordance with finance directives, these works are allotted to several sources up to a certain maximum expense per year. Various sources are entrusted with these works, one of which is a subsidiary of Markcar services.”
Cordina said the CPD has been ‘donated’ some 40 cars from owners who transferred their vehicles instead of paying registration tax. Asked about the police investigation, Cordina said the anonymous allegations were there for the police to inquire about. “Some three weeks have passed so far and nothing has happened.”

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