Businessmen acquitted of attempting to influence tenders procedure

Two businessmen have been acquitted of attempting to influence an €18.5 million contract forming part of the Pender Gardens project at St Julian’s.

Pierre Mercieca, 60, and Josef Dimech, 40, were arraigned following a report by a rival bidder, who had told police how he had been approached by another bidder and a “well-dressed stranger” with information about the offers by the various bidders.

The case happened six years ago.

George Borg, of GP Borg Construction, had told police about an ‘urgent’ meeting called by Josef Dimech informing him that that the two subcontractors forming part of his [Borg’s] consortium were not favoured by Pender Gardens.

The meeting was about a tender his aluminum company had submitted for the T1 and T2 towers and Block 17 at Pender Gardens covering construction, apertures and water and electricity.

Pender Gardens had received three bids from GP Borg, JAM consortium composed of Attard Brothers, JS Dimech and Mekkanika Limited and another bid from another consortium formed by Elbros Limited.

Dimech had urged Borg to pay off his subcontractors and take him and Mekkanika on board, the court was told.

Then Dimech would “guarantee” success in the bidding...