San Andrea Brings In Retired Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon To Investigate Fraud Allegations
San Andrea School has entrusted Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon with carrying out an inquiry into allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.
In an email to parents, San Andrea confirmed that Zammit McKeon will be investigating claims made by former assistant head Trevor Templeman of financial mismanagement ranging up to over €4 million.
The school said that the retired judge will also look into “other matters” that it is not yet at liberty to discuss.
“Rest assured that no stone will be left unturned in his quest for the truth,” the school said.
Big Four audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has also been engaged to carry out a fact-finding exercise in connection with the allegations.
Eyebrows were raised about the independence of the inquiry after the school urged people with relevant information to contact Zammit McKeon directly at [email protected] or by writing him a letter to the school’s address.
“The inquiry should be completely external,” a parent told Lovin Malta. “How can the judge be given a school email? Who is going to come forward with information now?”
However, a school board representative told Lovin Malta that Zammit McKeon was given a school email for reasons of data security and this following technical advice.
They promised that only the retired judge will have access to that email and that people who feel uncomfortable using it can write a physical letter to him.
“We have full faith in Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon and in PWC and we look forward to the findings of this inquiry,” the email read. “The school board shall, of course, update the members of the San Andrea community with all developments in due course.”
“It is now time for all of us to be prudent, let the inquiry take its course, and not contact the inquiry frivolously. Enough damage has been done to the image of the school, so now it is up to us to unite to keep the school’s reputable name.”
Trevor Templeman
Templeman last month claimed that former chairperson Kevin Spiteri allegedly defrauded the school of over €200,000 in “miscellaneous” transactions, while a separate former member of staff was paid €25,000 to keep quiet.
He is allegedly said to have received this information from the school principal Stefania Bartolo and head of finance Leanne Spiteri in the presence of other employees, according to MaltaToday.
He sent a recording with a testimony he gave to the school board last month to parents of San Andrea students allegedly detailing the meeting he had with Bartolo and Spiteri, along with the aftermath that led to his resignation.
Templeman also claimed that Kevin Spiteri had demanded his children’s school fees to be waived and said there was an allegedly suspicious contract to rent a property belonging to a person linked to the school.
Bartolo has since suspended herself as principal, while school board chair Alex Tortell has stepped down, with both officials denying wrongdoing.
Cover photo: Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon (Photo: TVM)
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