‘I Wouldn’t Want To Hurt The Family,’ Aaron Farrugia Says After Appearing With Company Involved In Miriam Pace’s Death
Minister for Infrastructure Aaron Farrugia has said that he wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt Miriam Pace’s family or reopen any wounds in a new comment to Lovin Malta.
His reaction comes after Farrugia appeared alongside a contractor company involved in Miriam Pace’s death, on the three-year anniversary of the tragic accident, while visiting ongoing works.
On 2nd March, Lovin Malta revealed the company involved in her death, LK Ltd, has since been assigned projects by Infrastructure Malta.
“You understand that the contractor is selected by Infrastructure Malta according to rules that are in force,” Farrugia told Lovin Malta.
“I’d like to inform you that I personally spoke with Carmel Pace on the subject. I certainly wouldn’t want to open wounds or hurt him and his family members,” Farrugia continued in light of the ordeal.
Meanwhile, Infrastructure Malta also provided a statement on the matter, saying that since the court case is not yet concluded, the decision won’t be based on an ongoing investigation.
“All contractors hired by IM must meet certain pre-requisites according to the framework agreement issued in accordance with the regulations on public procurement,” a representative told the newsroom.
“Once the contractor has met these pre-requisites, and which conditions are still valid, the agency follows the rules accordingly.”
“The public procurement law actually talks about: ‘conviction with a definitive sentence’ not an investigation.”
On 2nd March, three years were marked since the tragic demise of Miriam, who was buried in the rubble of her own home after work taking place next door caused her house to collapse.
On the same day, Farrugia paid a visit to an ongoing project site for a new road in Mqabba, and one of the contractors entrusted to carry out the works, LK Ltd, is none other than the contractor involved in her death.
For the €1.5 million project in question, along Triq tas-Sejba in Mqabba, Infrastructure Malta assigned the civil works to LK Ltd.
Three years on, not only has LK Ltd, owned by contractor Ludwig Dimech, continued to operate, but is also still getting jobs from the government itself.
Meanwhile, his court case in relation to Miriam’s death remains stalled and pending, as backlogs with jury trials are currently being experienced.
Moreover, the architect involved in her death is still operating within the local sector, having filed over 100 planning applications since the day of the fatal accident.
The state is set to release a registry in the coming months that will aim to make the construction industry more transparent, but so far, it has been delayed a number of times.
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