Lawyer Jason Azzopardi has filed a third separate request for a magisterial inquiry into Gozo and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri, this time over allegations that an Olympic-sized swimming pool and aquatic centre in Rabat went some €8 million over budget.

Warning that the project was originally meant to cost €9 million but ended up costing some €17 million, Azzopardi said there is reasonable suspicion that public funds were deliberately mismanaged so that they could end up in private hands.

He said these are similar tactics used by the Italian Mafia to embezzle public funds and asked for an investigation to look for evidence into criminal association, corruption, abuse of public office, embezzlement, misappropriation, fraud, and money laundering. 

This is the third magisterial inquiry that Azzopardi has requested into Camilleri in recent weeks. He earlier asked for investigations into a road project connecting Nadur with Għajnsielem that exceeded its original budget by €10.5 million, as well as allegations that mooring spots at the Mġarr harbour are being issued fraudulently.

He has also requested a magisterial inquiry into Economy Minister Silvio Schembri over “unexplained wealth”.

Azzopardi’s court action has prompted Prime Minister Robert Abela to push for a reform to restrict the rights of citizens to request magisterial inquiries into government officials. Abela has warned that the system is being grossly abused for political purposes and that “clearly innocent” people are being dragged to court for years.

The government tabled the first reading of this bill in Parliament yesterday, and although no details have been made public, the Opposition has pledged to fight it tooth and nail, including through street protests.