Bonġu News at 06:00 on 2 October

Chats reveal new details of TM driving license racket

Former transport minister Ian Borg forwarded names of driving test candidates that had to be “taken care of”.

Times of Malta published leaked Whatsapp chats to Transport Malta’s director of licensing Clint Mansueto.

Hundreds of candidates had their tests fast-tracked or received “help” due to their poor driving skills.

In total, 11 government and Transport Malta officials showed knowledge of the scheme.

Borg, his canvasser Jesmond Zammit, and ministry staff regularly piled pressure on Mansueto, the newspaper reported.

Former OPM ‘customer care’ official and Labour activist Ray Mizzi, as well as the Gozo Ministry’s chief of staff Michael Buhagiar, even linked the practice to winning votes.

Despite having the chat logs in their possession for well over a year, the police have only prosecuted Clint Mansueto and two low-level Transport Malta clerks.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Robert Abela dismissed the Times’ revelations as “regurgitated”.

The reactions

Ian Borg said he acted on people’s complaints and that he was sure examiners gave a pass to those who deserved it.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Robert Abela defended Borg, and said his only disappointment was that customer care officials “can do more”.

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said the government was “playing with people’s lives” for votes, by effectively giving a “licence to kill” to those who are not fit to drive.

Adrian Delia, the PN’s spokesperson for transport, asked what was keeping Robert Abela from forcing Ian Borg to shoulder political responsibility.

PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami, whose son’s name also appeared in the chats, said he never asked for any preferential treatment for his son.

ADPD called for the immediate resignation of Borg, saying his position was compromised and not acceptable.

Volt Malta joined the calls for Ian Borg’s resignation, saying there must be zero tolerance for clientelism.

Robert Aquilina, president of civil society group Repubblika, asked whether the police commissioner intended to arrest and interrogate Ian Borg.

Lawyer and former PN MP Jason Azzopardi accused Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà of not taking action to ensure that proceedings become time-barred.