Aggrieved army officers seeking redress over controversial promotions are becoming increasingly concerned time is running out as the dispute between the Ombudsman and government drags on.
The issue has been going on since September 2013, when a number of army officers filed a complaint over a series of controversial promotions awarded months after the Labour Party was elected to government.
These included the rapid rise through the ranks of Jeffrey Curmi, who was promoted three times in a matter of weeks and eventually appointed Brigadier and Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta.
These complaints, however, were never probed as the government refused to collaborate with the Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino, arguing the latter had no jurisdiction over such matters.
Last month a court ordered the Home Affairs Ministry to grant the Ombudsman access to all documentation related to the case, saying Dr Said Pullicino had every right to look into army complaints. The ministry filed an appeal saying that such a move was “in line with that followed by previous administrations”.
“The government’s challenge will only serve to prolong the dispute further, and with the Ombudsman’s term of office set to expire next March this could spell the end of our hope for a fair solution,” sources close to the aggrieved parties told this newspaper.
The government’s challenge will only serve to prolong the dispute further
“Our concern is that his successor will not be so keen to follow Dr Said Pullicino’s footsteps and might opt for a different approach,” they added.
Meanwhile, the recent nomination of Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri to the EU General Court in Luxembourg will create a vacancy for the top judicial post if he is accepted. Mr Justice Camilleri could be replaced by Attorney General Peter Grech.
“Judging by the experience of 2010 when the then Attorney General Silvio Camilleri had stepped in as Chief Justice this is a real possibility,” the sources said.
During court proceedings it emerged that prior to this dispute, in 2011, Dr Grech was of the opinion that the decision whether to file a complaint with the Ombudsman or the President should rest entirely with the official making the claim. In his submissions the Ombudsman noted that this was “contrary” to the position which Dr Grech was adopting at present.
“In this context the AG’s possible appointment as Chief Justice could also be a way to put this issue to bed,” sources said.
They added that such a scenario would also be the perfect setting for the army complaints dispute to be dropped, under the pretext of starting a new chapter, as both Dr Said Pullicino and Dr Grech would no longer be involved.
“Our only hope is that the Appeals Court turns down government’s challenge before all of this might unfold.”