The Home Affairs Ministry has been slapped with an enforcement notice by the Data Protection Commissioner for failing to reply to a freedom of information request filed by this newspaper.

On November 19, Times of Malta filed an FOI request for a copy of the inquiry ordered last June into the controversial decision of former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit to drop charges against a man who had assaulted a number of police officers. The incident had taken place in June 2013 at the Żabbar police station.

The demand had been made in the wake of the government’s delay to publish the findings. Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela has been saying this report would be released “in the coming days” since January, but to date the inquiry is still being kept under wraps.

Failure by the ministry to comply with the enforcement notice by the end of this month may result in an administrative fine of up to €2,500 in terms of the Data Protection Act. However, this is only applicable if the ministry decides not to appeal.

Prior to this extension, the Home Affairs Ministry had already extended the deadline by 40 days up to February 18. The delay had been justified on grounds that the ministry needed to consult with third parties before being in a position to respond.

Though this newspaper had not objected to this extension, last week it filed a complaint as no reply was received within the extended time frame.