The Maltese and former EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy has to go to court on corruption allegations. In 2012 he left office after allegations of close ties to the tobacco industry.
Former European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli is on trial in Malta over corruption allegations.
(dpa)
Almost ten years after the first allegations of corruption, former EU Commissioner John Dalli has to go to court in Malta. That was decided by a Maltese court on Friday, as the Times of Malta reported. There is sufficient evidence to start a process. Dalli’s attorneys did not appeal the court’s decision.
The Maltese and former health commissioner left office in 2012 after allegations of close ties to the tobacco industry after EU anti-fraud agency Olaf investigated a complaint from a Swedish smokeless tobacco snus company. The company claimed that an adviser to Dallis demanded €60 million for the now 73-year-old to amend the EU Tobacco Directive in favor of lifting a snus ban. Olaf found insufficient evidence that money had been paid, but found that Dalli was aware of the attempted bribery. Dalli, who previously held ministerial posts in Malta, denied any involvement and said he wanted the trial to clear his name.