The police are still investigating the “racket” of abusive residence permits that allegedly involves Identity Malta employees and other people, a spokesman for the force told the Times of Malta yesterday.

Three low-level Identity Malta employees returned to work in the past weeks after having been arrested in September and suspended from work for three months, but the police yesterday confirmed that the investigation has not been closed.

“Numerous searches and arrests have been made in connection with the case and, to date, seven people have been arraigned and their cases are sub-judice,” the police told the Times of Malta.

Asked whether the police are currently in a positon to arraign more persons including more Identity Malta staff, they said: “Investigations are still actively underway and the possibility of further arraignments is not being ruled out.”

Last September, police officers from the economic crimes department raided the offices of Identity Malta and arrested three employees. The police also seized files, computers and mobile phones to help them in their investigations.

The three employees were suspended on full pay and were held on police bail to help the police in their investigations. However, following interrogations, they were released and allowed to return to work. According to a police source, there is so far no tangible evidence to press charges against them.

The “racket” at Identity Malta was discovered following the arraignment in court of former Labour treasurer Joe Sammut accused of registering hundreds of false commercial companies in order to acquire permanent residency permits for their owners.

A number of Identity Malta employees were accused of helping Mr Sammut.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had said that “a racket which had been going on for years” had been discovered and the police were investigating to get at the bottom of this abuse.