The Foreign Ministry said today that it had taken the initiative to call in the police to investigate alleged wrongdoing in the granting of visas by the Maltese consulate in Tripoli.

Reacting to media reports, the ministry said it had received several conflicting reports ever since this administration took over last year.

The ambassador, a senior, experienced diplomat whose integrity was undoubted, had expressed concerns but never filed specific reports or indicated individuals.

The ministry said the consulate handled hundreds of visa applications every day and worked in a difficult circumstances because of the security situation.

Nonetheless, ministry officials were involved in several meetings to improve efficiency and transparency in the granting of visas.

A few months ago a consul in Benghazi who handled visas was urgently recalled to Malta because of threats to his life.

The ministry said it was aware that the police had interviewed the principal officer responsible for the granting of visas at the consulate in Tripoli but it had not spoken to the police or the official about those meetings and it was not aware of any charges or any decisions taken by the police.

However, ministry officials were in Tripoli over the past days to collect and seal documents which will be brought to Malta for investigation.

The ministry said it will act according to the findings of its investigations and those of the police.

It was reported last June that the ministry had launched an internal inquiry over allegations of 'a racket’ in the granting of urgent visas from the Maltese consulate in Tripoli.

It was alleged that applicants had been charged €200 for a visa which normally cost €70 and in one case as much as €3.000 was charged.