Aġġornata: 10:45 am bit-tweġiba ta’ Kevin Deguara

Ninsab infurmat li l-Pulizija għamlu rejd fl-uffiċċji u fir-residenza tal-avukat Kevin Deguara, wieħed mis-sħab ta’ DF advocates kif ukoll wieħed mill-azzjonisti tal-proġett Shoreline fi Smart City.

Hu mifhum li dawn ir-rejds saru b’rabta mal-investigazzjonijiet u mal-inkjesta maġisterjali li qed iseħħu bħalissa dwar allegazzjonijiet ta’ korruzzjoni u ta’ reati oħra konnessi mal-privatizzazzjoni favur il-VGH ta’ tliet sptarijiet pubbliċi. Il-Pulizija ħadet azzjoni fuq ordni tal-Maġistrat inkwirenti.

L-inkjesta maġisterjali kienet ingħatat bidu f’Lulju 2019 wara li Qorti laqgħet it-talba ta’ Repubblika. Ir-rikors ta’ Repubblika sar f’Mejju ta’ dik is-sena u fih ġie allegat li l-Ministri Edward Scicluna, Chris Cardona u Konrad Mizzi kienu ffavorew lill-VGH fil-proċess tal-għażla. Ebda wieħed minn dawn għadhom fil-kariga ministri tal-Gvern. Edward Scicluna nħatar gvernatur tal-Bank Ċentrali filwaqt li Cardona u Mizzi tħallew barra mill-kabinett hekk kif Robert Abela sar Prim Ministru.

Hu magħruf li Kevin Deguara u d-ditta legali tiegħu huma qrib ta’ Keith Schembri u tan-negozju tiegħu. Sorsi infurmati jxebbhu lil Kevin Deguara u lid-ditta legali tiegħu mad-ditta ta’ Brian Tonna u Nexia BT, u jissemma’ b’mod jew ieħor f’numru ta’ proġetti kontroversjali tal-gvern skreditat ta’ Joseph Muscat.

Dan l-avukat kien konsulent tas-Sadeen Group fejn għandha x’taqsam l-American University of Malta u jirrappreżenta lid-diretturi ta’ Pilatus Bank fil-kawża li dawn qed jagħmlu biex jingħataw kumpens mill-gvern wara li dan ordna l-għeluq tal-Bank.

Huwa wkoll il-konsulent tad-Dizz Group ta’ Karl u Diane Izzo, ħbieb intimi ta’ Joseph Muscat.

Fl-2018 Stephen Carter, eks sieħeb ta’ Kevin Deguara fil-proġett Shoreline, kien ġie mixli b’ħasil tal-flus. Kevin Deguara jgħid li qatt ma kellu ebda konnessjoni ma’ Stephen Carter wara li ħarġet fil-beraħ l-aħbar li l-Pulizija ħadet din l-azzjoni. Il-proġett Shoreline huwa żvilupp kbir li, fl-2007, kien ġie identifikat għall-użu ta’ IT business park. Is-sit kien ġie allokat għal żvilupp fiż-żmien li matulu Keith Schembri kien direttur maħtur mill-gvern tal-kumpannija li tmexxi Smart City.

Jien tlabt lil Kevin Deguara biex jagħtini l-kummenti tiegħu, iżda bqajt ma rċevejt ebda tweġiba sal-ħin li xxandar dan l-artiklu.

Aġġornata: 10.45 am: ir-risposta ta’ Kevin Deguara.

Din hija r-risposta ta’ Kevin Deguara għall-mistoqsijiet li bgħattlu dalgħodu. Se nħalli t-tweġiba bl-Ingliż kif bagħathieli hu.

“First of all may I point out that the Magisterial Inquiry and related investigations are per se secret and confidential but it would seem that information in this regard has been leaked to third parties including the press. This is very serious in that it can it can interfere and mislead investigations. I will therefore have to immediately inform the inquiring magistrate of this communication.

“At the outset may I point out that my and my firm’s links to VGH were purely and simply that of having acted as legal advisors for the companies forming part of VGH. A number of other lawyers and reputable firms (both legal and financial) were also in some way or another involved in the Hospitals Concession projects, acting for either VGH or Government.

“It would seem that there exists a Magisterial Inquiry in connection with VGH and as many others, including other firms, I was asked by the police to provide files and information in relation to VGH. This includes information which is covered and protected by lawyer-client privilege.

“May I point for the avoidance out that this Magisterial Inquiry does not relate nor involve me personally nor my firm and any inference to this effect is strongly opposed and I hereby reserve the right to defend my interest and that of my firm by inter alia taking those actions permitted at law against those who will attempt to tarnish my, our my firm’s reputation.

“We are also communicating the above to the Chamber of Advocates for their intervention.”