Lt. Colonel Susann Agius.

A female Armed Forces captain has been awarded an accelerated promotion to lieutenant colonel, leapfrogging the rank of major.

On Friday, it was announced in the Government Gazette that Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had approved the promotion of Susann Agius as a legal officer from the rank of captain to lieutenant colonel. Her appointment took effect from May 13.

Sources told The Sunday Times of Malta that this decision has fomented further discontent in sections of army that have already complained about the manner in which promotions are being handled.

They pointed out that in this case officers whose career stretches over 20 years have been overlooked. Lt. Colonel Agius joined the Armed Forces less than three years ago.

Ironically the announcement was made on the same day that the Ombudsman accused the government of refusing to collaborate in a probe into complaints filed by army officers over promotions, pay and pension rights. In a harshly-worded judicial protest the Ombudsman said that the Home Affairs Ministry was “hindering the quest for the truth”.

Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia yesterday issued a statement saying that he would be issuing a counter protest in the coming days. Dr Mallia said that the Ombudsman was free to investigate every complaint filed by army officers, and that it would co-operate to the full as it had previously done.

However, he reiterated that army officers had other avenues to seek redress, in line with the Armed Forces Act, as had been the case for a number of years.

Dr Mallia said that the ministry had never tried to deny army officers the right to file a complaint, but remarked that they had to do so in conformity with established procedures dictated by law.

He also noted that the ministry had created further channels for those seeking redress, through the setting up of an army complaints board.

This had established that the majority of complaints had been justified. The Home Affairs Minister said that these complaints would start being addressed in the coming days.

Earlier, PN spokesman Jason Azzopardi expressed concern over recent developments, saying that these were unprecedented. He said that such instances were not in line with a democratic country and contradicted the Prime Minister’s pledge to adhere to European values.