A former police inspector’s links to a “dubious” Paceville night club owner and his business relationship with the Gaffarena family have been exposed by an inquiry into a “compromised” murder investigation.

Daniel Zammit, an inspector at the police Economic Crimes Unit until he was boarded out earlier this year, acted “unethically” in a homicide investigation into the fatal shooting of Neville Baldacchino in 2008, according to former judge Michael Mallia.

Dr Mallia recommended the Attorney General look into the possibility that Mr Zammit may have traded in influence, a criminal act.

The inquiry, which was called by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, found that Mr Zammit’s undeclared business dealings with the Gaffarena family conflicted with his police work and compromised his ability to investigate the shooting.

Mr Zammit’s dealings with the Gaffarena family started in 2009, when the former police officer bought land from them.

However, a year later the relationship developed into a business venture through the creation of a joint company aimed at developing old people’s homes.

Meanwhile, the murder investigation headed by Mr Zammit had Steve Caruana as a lead suspect. Mr Caruana, who was married into the Gaffarena family, allegedly shot Mr Baldacchino after he found the man in bed with his wife, Romina, at the family home in Qormi.

Police brothers partied at Ugo Chetcuti’s villa

Judge Mallia said it was “worrying” that members of the Gaffarena family had arrived outside the Qormi house where the shooting took place before the police were even on the scene.

Worse still, the police investigation was “compromised” by the Gaffarena family, primarily because the crime scene was destroyed when the house was pulled down and replaced by a block of apartments.

It is not clear what permits were given for this, however, it is clear the courts did not give it the thumbs up, the inquiry said.

Judge Mallia also raised suspicion over the “exaggeratedly” long time it took for information to be retrieved from the Gaffarena family members’ mobile phones. These were probably in the family’s possession before being handed over to the police, he added.

But the inquiry also looked into Mr Zammit’s father, former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit. Judge Mallia concluded that the senior Mr Zammit should have faced internal disciplinary measures before leaving the corps.

The inquiry said that Mr Zammit Sr, together with his two police officer sons, Daniel and Roderick, had held shares in a number of companies with prominent entrepreneurs, which conflicted with their postions as officers of the law.

Mr Zammit Sr, who remained director of prisons for a while after resigning as acting police commissioner to head a new government agency handling the wardens system, should not have held such business relationships.

Despite this, the inquiry said that he should face no repercussions which would affect his current role, because this was separate from the police corps.

Meanwhile, the inquiry also looked into Inspector Roderick Zammit, the second Zammit son, who is still a police officer.

Roderick Zammit also carried out financial dealings with local business tycoons.

The inquiry recommended that the current police chief take disciplinary measures against Mr Zammit for this.

Judge Mallia urged him to sever all contact with entertainment tycoon Ugo Chetcuti and to stop frequenting lap dancing clubs, as this was unbecoming of a police officer.

The inquiry raises several concerns over the Zammit family’s links to the Paceville night club owner, who Judge Mallia said was of a “dubious character”.

The Zammit brothers claimed to have only had a casual, “hi and bye” relationship with Mr Chetcuti. However, the inquiry noted that the Zammit brothers had organised a birthday party in Mr Chetcuti’s Madliena villa.

This, the inquiry said, had compromised them, since they became indebted to Mr Chetcuti for the free party.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a statement that the inquiry was handed over to the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner, in order for any necessary steps to be taken.

Company interests

St Gabriel Residential Homes Ltd

Registration fee paid by Daniel Zammit on May 29, 2010 and formally created on June 2.

Its shareholders were Michael Gaffarena, Daniel Zammit, Roderick Zammit, Ray Zammit and George Buttigieg.

On August 14, 2014, the Zammits transferred their shares to Jane Zammit, Ray’s wife and the mother of Daniel and Roderick.

Diabolic Entertainment Ltd

Registration fee paid by Daniel Zammit on December 15, 2010 and set up a day later.

The shareholders are Daniel Zammit, Stephen Bonnici and Luke Chetcuti. Bonnici and Chetcuti are directors.

Geras Care Ltd

Registration fee paid by Daniel Zammit on August 8, 2014 and company formally created on October 4, 2014. Shareholders are Joseph Gaffarena and Jane Zammit.

Tyche Consultancy Ltd

Set up on May 7, 2015 with Daniel Zammit, Roderick Zammit and Francasco Airo’ as shareholders. Daniel and Francesco are directors.

Zurmed Trading Ltd

Set up on May 29, 2015 with Daniel Zammit, Bernice Farrugia, Deborah Farrugia and Anthony Mario Vella as shareholders.

Its directors are Zammit, John Farrugia and Vella.

The Zammits

Daniel Zammit: A former police inspector who was boarded out of the police force this year in record time only to land a lucrative job as an investigator with Enemalta. His Enemalta job was terminated amid the controversy. He is the son of former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit and brother to Roderick.

Ray Zammit: The former acting police commissioner, who was removed from the post following the shooting incident involving the former home affairs minister’s driver. He left the police corps and currently heads a new government warden agency.

Roderick Zammit: A police inspector currently stationed at the Ħamrun police station since the beginning of July, when the shady links of the Zammit family started appearing in the media. He was previously stationed in the Economic Crimes Unit. He is brother to Daniel Zammit.

Jane Zammit: Ray Zammit’s wife and the mother of Daniel and Roderick.

ivan.martin@timesofmalta.com