A 67-year-old policeman, reinstated soon after the 2013 election, has resigned after he was seens on CCTV cameras at the airport arrivals lounge allowing migrants in without any passport control.
A police spokesman yesterday confirmed that Sergeant Mario Camenzuli, from Cospicua, was last week “put under forced leave pending an internal investigation pertaining to a breach of his duties”.
Sgt Camenzuli opted to resign.
The police were asked if Sgt Camenzuli would be facing criminal charges but no reply was forthcoming at the time of writing.
READ: 'Officer of the year' stripped of his award
Malta International Airport sources said Sgt Camenzuli, who was made responsible for the immigration/emigration police at the airport by former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, was arrested at the airport by plainclothes policemen after he was reported to be involved in illegal activities, including letting into Malta third-country nationals without any checks.
According to the sources, the police were shown CCTV footage featuring Sgt Camenzuli accompanying non-EU citizens disembarking and bypassing checks.
The sources said Sgt Camenzuli had been observed doing the same thing on various other occasions before he was reported.
BLOG: Poor man, he works long hours
According to strict EU rules, all passengers coming from non-Schengen countries must have their passports checked before they can enter the Schengen area. Once entering Malta, passengers can move freely within all EU States forming part of the Schengen zone.
Sgt Camenzuli was one of the retired police officers who returned to the force
Police sources said Sgt Camenzuli was one of the retired police officers who returned to the force when Labour changed the rules on reinstatements.
Until 2013, the police had strict rules with regard to reinstatements, which included that only officers under the age of 50 and who had retired less than 10 years before could apply to rejoin.
Under the new rules, officers who had been in retirement for more than 20 years were allowed to return, as were those over 60.
In 2015, Sgt Camenzuli had been awarded a medal for his long and efficient service by former home affairs minister Carmelo Abela.
The police force has experienced a bad patch in recent weeks.
Assistant police commissioner Mario Tonna stepped down after his partner filed a report of domestic violence against him.
Saviour Chircop, who had been named “officer of the year” for a heroic deed, was stripped of his medal after it emerged that he had a history of domestic violence.
Also, three officers – including two members of the armed rapid intervention unit and a rookie who had joined the force just days before – were caught in possession of drugs in Paceville while off-duty.