Senior VAT Inspector cleared of bribery charge

Paul Scicluna, a Senior VAT Inspector and head of Prosecution at the VAT Department, has been cleared of bribery charges by a court. Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona said when delivering sentence that the evidence against the accused did not prove the charges and it was clear that the accused was not guilty. Furthermore, he said, the main witness had been inconsistent in his evidence. During the proceedings of the case, a  VAT Inspector, Vince Vella, had told a court today how he had been 'offered' €100 from Mr Scicluna in order to close an eye to the fact that a ledger had not accompanied a correction letter sent by a client who wished to correct his VAT return.  Mr Vella said that at one time he was called to Mr Scicluna's office. Mr Scicluna handed him a correction letter with a cheque for the 10% fine but no ledger. He also placed €100 on the table. Mr Vella said that he reported the incident the next day the VAT Commissioner. The VAT Commissioner confronted the two men the next day and at the meeting Mr Vella said he admitted to taking the €100 'in panic'. The court found, however, that there were doubts as to whether the €100 were actually meant for Mr Vella. Dr Steve...