Most complaints received by Ombudsman last year related to the AFM

More than a quarter of the complaints received by the Ombudsman in 2007 were related to the Armed Forces of Malta.

According to the Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2007, which was presented to Speaker Louis Galea this morning.Infact, 164 out of 660 cases related to the army, 44 to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, and 36 to the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

The many complaints regarding the AFM were the result of the promotions exercise. The complaints, with some exceptions, referred to a promotions exercise that took place after a lapse of over five years and that was long overdue.

As for the complaints relating to Mepa, the Ombudsman said that some of the investigations conducted had deep and wide ranging implications that affected a relatively large number of citizens in various localities, especially in the southern region.

Complaints about the ADT centred on issues relating to vehicle registration tax, parking, allegations of arbitrary treatment including unfair regulations and requests for compensation for damage suffered by car owners.

Consultations about this latter issue went on during the year to establish criteria and procedures that should regulate such claims so that, where possible, recourse to judicial proceedings would be avoided.

The report states that out of the 146 cases the office investigation last year, 37 were sustained while 109 were not.