Norman Vella transfer - Top civil servant says proper procedure was followed

From TIMESOFMALTA.COM

The Principal Permanent Secretary, Mario Cutajar, said in court today that he was following procedure when he allowed the termination of Norman Vella’s deployment at PBS.

Mr Cutajar said he had received a recommendation from the Home Affairs Ministry stating that Mr Vella - who had been deployed at PBS - was needed back in his old job in the Immigration Department at the airport.

He testified before the Employment Commission that is hearing the case that Mr Vella, the former presenter of TVHemm, instituted against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Mr Cutajar, claiming political discrimination in the way he was re-deployed from PBS to the Immigration Department.

Mr Cutajar said he ensured that Mr Vella was not moved half way through the PBS schedule.

He said he was "friends" with Mr Vella and had known him for many years when Mr Vella worked as a reporter with l-orizzont. He even knew Mr Vella's parents and brother.

When it came to deciding on the re-deployment, he said, he did not discuss the matter with Mr Vella.
“In my position you have to take decisions that you know may hurt people but they have to be taken,” he said.

Asked if he had views about “the background” leading to Mr Vella’s transfer from  PBS, he said he had no reason to doubt the recommendation which was then signed by the Prime Minister.