The medical visas scam is the latest in a series of rackets that have hit the country since the Labour government was elected on the promise of a zero-tolerance policy on corruption but, instead, turned out to be the most corrupt government in Maltese history.

The Maltese government and the Libyan authorities signed a memorandum of understanding  on medical visas to Libyan nationals who had been injured in hostilities, for the purpose of medical assistance in Malta.

A whistleblower who holds a Libyan passport disclosed that Neville Gafà, an officer occupying a position of trust at the Office of the Prime Minister, had allegedly misappropriated €38,000 paid by Libyan nationals for the issuance of 42 medical visas.

According to him, the visas were not issued and Gafà used the money to purchase a new BMW.

The whistleblower presented Viber correspondence to substantiate his claims.

Gafà denies the accusations.

The police declared that they had not found enough evidence to arraign Gafà and have sought advice from the Attorney General about whether legal action can be taken against the whistleblower for false disclosure.

This scam follows another that involved Joe Sammut, former Labour Party candidate and party treasurer, who allegedly provided a fast-track visa for several hundred Libyan nationals to travel to Malta through the registration of companies with fake stock declarations against the payment of a fee amounting to several thousand euros per company being registered.

Malta has experienced an influx of Libyan nationals who, though seemingly healthy, were granted medical visas

It has been claimed that the whistleblower who disclosed the recent medical visa scam obtained a Maltese residence permit himself through Sammut before the latter was arraigned a year ago, facing a string of charges including fraud, misappropriation of funds, money laundering and the falsification of documents.

Gafà is not the first person given a position of trust by the present Labour administration to be implicated in a government scandal.

To mention but one other, Clint Scerri, who on various occasions accompanied Marco Gaffarena at the Government Property Department offices, was a member of the secretariat of a former parliamentary secretary forming part of the Office of the Prime Minister.

It has been stated under oath that undue pressure was exerted on at least one public officer by Scerri for a government deal with Gaffarena to be concluded without delay. On the basis of this deal, Gaffarena was paid €516,390 in cash and given property and land valued at €2,760,000 by independent architects (estimated to be worth €1,128,610 by the GPD) in exchange for two quarters of a building he bought for €163,056.

Experience has shown that a whistleblower who makes a disclosure about improper practice committed by a person in a position of trust is not afforded protection from detrimental action, despite the provision for such protection in the Whistleblower Act.

When I disclosed information that showed improper practice by an officer in a position of trust, I soon found myself a victim of reprisal. The responsible permanent secretary totally ignored the situation, while he turned a blind eye to improper practice by the officer concerned. When he was instructed to investigate any wrongdoing on the part of this officer, he set up a board consisting of three members, two of whom worked in his office.

It is evident that the Labour media machine is making a big effort to discredit the whistleblower who alleged corruption in the issuance of medical visas.

However, a fact that should not be overlooked is that Libyan nationals see an attractive fast track to entering and living in Malta in these visas, particularly after the Sammut arraignment.

In fact, Malta has experienced an influx of Libyan nationals on flights operated by Medavia Company Limited who, though seemingly healthy, were granted medical visas. These individuals remained in Malta by applying for asylum status within two weeks of their arrival and before their medical visas expired. As a result, they were granted refugee status, which includes a three-year renewable residence permit.

I do not suppose that this has all happened by sheer coincidence, and it points to the importance of taking the matter seriously, particularly since the country’s peace and security may well be at stake.

Denis Tanti is a former assistant director (industrial and employment relations) at the Health Ministry.

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