Witness ‘blackmailed over affair’

One of the key witnesses in the Dalligate case, Gayle Kimberley, told police that she had been blackmailed over what to say in court, Inspector Angelo Gafà revealed during his testimony. Dr Kimberley, who was head of EU and International Affairs at the Lotteries and Gaming Authority while she represented Swedish Match in meetings with Mr Dalli, would not give further information. But police understood this blackmail to centre around an affair she had with a colleague, Iosif Galea, a compliance officer at the authority. The relationship is relevant as Mr Galea not only admitted to being Mr Zammit’s collaborator but also to betraying Dr Kimberley’s trust to alert him about Olaf’s investigation. Dr Kimberley was the first person to be interviewed by OLAF, at a hotel where she was staying in Portugal on work in June. She was accompanied by Mr Galea, who was not on official business. The investigators warned her not to tell anyone about the investigation. She discussed the matter with Mr Galea and warned him not to tell Mr Zammit. Mr Galea admitted calling Mr Zammit from Portugal then meeting him shortly after the couple returned to Malta. The connection between the three and the...