A magistrate warned on Wednesday that he would demand a personal explanation from the Police Commissioner if a man summoned by the courts on tax evasion charges for the past five years was not tracked down.

Peter Paul Muscat, of Nadur, who has clocked up a bill in tax arrears, has been elusive for the last five years, always failing to turn up for court hearings. 

The police have repeatedly reported to Magistrate Ian Farrugia that the accused was nowhere to be found.

The man’s daughter and his brother have declared that she has no contact with him.

This morning, after another no-show Magistrate Farrugia declared that unless Mr Muscat was found and produced for the next sitting, on May 9, the court would summon the Police Commissioner in person to explain why the man could not be found. ‘No other representative for the Commissioner will do’ the magistrate stressed.

Meanwhile, sources said Mr Muscat had allegedly run into substantial debts with various individuals, other than the tax authorities. His ID card has also not been renewed, the same sources explained.

Dr Vanessa Grech appeared on behalf of the Commissioner for Inland Revenue.