In May 2015, the accused was charged with having abused his position as an employer in the public sector and had mis-used public funds.
From the evidence, it transpired that all the works carried out fell within the remit of the Ministry of Gozo and that there was no indication of any wrong doing.
The judgement was delivered on Friday in Gozo after the prosecution sought to overturn a judgement. Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera declared that the court could not find a person guilty simply on the basis of suspicions.
The court said that the whistleblower who made the allegations was not credible, ruling that the information given by contractor turned whistleblower Joseph Cauchi, was not sufficient to prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt. The court invited the authorities to seriously consider whether a whistleblower status should be given in circumstances when the person coming forward with information did not do so because he genuinely believed in the fight against corruption but was rather motivated by monitory considerations
In this case, the evidence pointed at unfounded or unproved suspicions and mere allegations, that it deemed Cauchi’s testimony as neither credible nor plausible.
Lawyer Dr Joe Giglio was defence counsel for Anthony Debono.
