A total of 14 bidders submitted their proposal for the project with Princess Operations winning the tender because it was reportedly the cheapest one. However, this has long been disputed. 

Davico Ltd, who had appealed the decision to award the tender, is filing a judicial protest of the matter, insisting that the bid did not include the total costs which include insurance cover, while the company did not have the required number of vehicles as listed in the tender.

It also claims that Princess Operations should have been immediately disqualified after Borg was charged. It remains to be seen how this case will develop but Borg’s companies continue to apply for tenders and look set to win a lucrative €2.5 million contract to supply cars to the courts’ agency. 

Borg, who owns a number of car hire companies and showrooms, was one of six men who last February were charged with abducting and assaulting a man who used to work for Borg.

The victim has testified that the men interrogated him about a stolen van and that one of them (not Borg) threatened to rape his sister.  

Borg was also involved in a controversial property deal regarding a plot of land in Żabbar involving Robert Abela, a few years before he became Prime Minister.

On 16th February, Jason Azzopardi stood up in Parliament to claim that Borg was also involved in a major €3 million racket involving Transport Malta and LESA officials.

According to Azzopardi, tourists who incurred traffic fines while making use of Borg’s car hire firm Goldcar would pay the money directly to Goldcar, believing the car hire firm would pass it on to the authorities. 

However, the fines would never arrive at Transport Malta, with officials involved in the race allegedly wiping the contraventions off the system entirely.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Department is also reportedly in possession of a recorded telephone conversation where Borg tells an accomplice “Do not worry, we have Bobby behind us”, which he suggested could be a reference to Abela.

Transport Malta is also currently facing a separate corruption case involving driving theory tests which allegedly involve a minister and a political party. However, sitting ministers and the Labour Party have denied being involved, even if sources claim otherwise.

What do you think of the case?