Two senior government employees at the Inland Revenue Department are being investigated by a board of inquiry following claims of serious irregularities, the Times of Malta is informed.

The Finance Ministry in Valletta.

A spokesman for Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said: “The minister can confirm he received a letter with allegations on October 2, when he was abroad. He has, henceforth, set up a board of inquiry made up of three senior officials outside the Inland Revenue Department. Their remit is to establish the facts and report on their findings in order for the minister to decide whether further measures are warranted.”

The ministry did not say who the board members are or whether the findings will be made public.

Times of Malta was told that the allegations, which involve tax issues and possible fraud, were made to the Finance Minister in writing and include details of individuals.

The two employees mentioned in the letter were both promoted to senior positions in the public service over the past three years and the Office of the Permanent Principal Secretary had authorised them to work in the same department despite being in a relationship, sources said.

They said Finance Ministry officials had communicated with the Office of the Prime Minister saying it was not ethical the couple should be given responsibilities within the same department since they were involved in a relationship. However, the move was still done.

Not ethical they should be given responsibilities in the same department

One of the two being investigated was related to a government member who is not connected to the Finance Ministry, the sources added.

The information given to Prof. Scicluna was also copied to Alfred Camilleri and Joseph Caruana, the two permanent secretaries at the ministry. Times of Malta also received copies.

The newspaper is informed that a similar inquiry was held last year on another senior employee at the Inland Revenue Department but nothing has been heard of it since.

The Finance Ministry had launched an investigation into public allegations by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who claimed there was a close relationship between IRD director Ivan Portelli and Seabank Group chairman Silvio Debono. The conclusions were never published and it is not known whether any action was taken or if any wrongdoing was found.