Civil society group Repubblika has called for a probe into Housing Minister Roderick Galdes's cut-price purchase of a Gozo property, and also demanded rules to prevent ministers and senior officials from engaging in private business with individuals or companies awarded contracts by their departments.
Times of Malta revealed on Sunday that Galdes bought a duplex penthouse in Gozo's capital, including a garage, airspace and rooftop jacuzzi for €140,000 from Joseph Portelli's Excel Investments. The minister said he had reserved the apartment in shell form in 2001, when prices were different.
Repubblika said on Monday that the price was far below what Maltese families would pay for similar properties on today's market.
"The minister, entrusted with protecting vulnerable citizens, appears to be enjoying benefits that ordinary people could never access," it said.
It also raised concerns about a conflict of interest.
Companies linked to the same developer had been awarded multi-million-euro contracts by departments under Galdes' ministry, it observed.
Even if the transaction was legal, it was unacceptable for a minister to enter into property deals with a developer benefiting from public tenders issued by his own ministry. Public office should never be used -- or appear to be used -- for personal gain.
Making matters worse, the government was continuing to refuse to publish ministers' asset declarations, fueling suspicion.
The NGO called for:
"Malta deserves leaders who defend the public interest, not friends of friends who exploit a system that leaves others behind," Repubblika said.