As parallel investigations have been launched into the business dealings of former police inspector Daniel Zammit and his brother, Police Inspector Roderick Zammit, sources close to the issue speaking with this newspaper yesterday said it has not being ruled out that those investigations will also include their father, former Acting Police Commissioner and current head of the government’s warden agency Ray Zammit.
Following reports by blogger and Malta Independent columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia, as well as other reports in this newspaper last Sunday detailing the Zammits’ numerous dubious business dealings, on Wednesday, the government appointed an inquiry headed by Judge Michael Mallia to investigate the involvement of former inspector Daniel Zammit in connection with Neville Baldacchino’s murder in December 2008. He has been given four weeks to conclude his inquiry, and include recommendations to improve existing procedures.
Judge Mallia has also been tasked to investigate any people or matters that he feels need to be scrutinized. According to our sources, this particular term of reference has left the door wide open for Ray Zammit to also be investigated for his involvement in any businesses, which police officers are categorically precluded from doing without having specific consent from the Police Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary at the Home Affairs Ministry.
(Ray Zammit)
This week, Roderick Zammit was also placed under investigation and he was reassigned from the sensitive money laundering section of the Economic Crimes Unit to the Hamrun police station.
Former inspector Daniel Zammit shot to prominence recently when it emerged that he was boarded out from the police force for psychiatric reasons, and was then employed on a €60,000 annual salary at Enemalta.
It later emerged that Mr Zammit was in a business relationship with Marco Gaffarena’s father at the time when he was charged with investigating a murder involving the Gaffarena family, and also despite the fact that all three Zammits had regularly flouted the Public Service Management Code and the Police Act by entering into businesses as shareholders.
Two weeks after he was boarded out from the police force on 21 April of this year, Daniel Zammit went into business with an online gaming operator, even though he was fresh out of the Economic Crimes Unit, which keeps a watchful eye on the sector. His brother Roderick, who was still a police inspector, also took an equal 33 per cent shareholding in the business, against police regulations.
(Daniel Zammit)
The Zammit family’s business involvements
St Gabriel Residential Homes Limited
Incorporated: 2 June 2010
Directors:
Michael Gaffarena
Shareholders:
Michael Gaffarena 33.3%
Jane Zammit 50%
George Buttigieg 16.6%
On 14 August 2014, Daniel Zammit, Roderick Zammit and Ray Zammit each transferred their 200 shares to their mother/wife Jane Zammit. On 29 May 2010, Daniel Zammit had personally paid the company registration fee of €1,200 at BOV, as shown by MFSA documents.
Diabolik Entertainment Limited
Incorporated: 16 December 2010
Directors:
Stephen Bonnici
Luke Chetcuti
Shareholders:
Daniel Zammit 33.3%
Stephen Bonnici 33.3%
Luke Chetcuti 33.3%
On 15 December 2010 Daniel Zammit also personally paid the company registration fee of €1,200 at BOV, as shown by MFSA documents. According to reports, the company owns Paceville’s notorious gentlemen’s club ‘Steam’.
Geras Care Limited
Incorporated: 8 October 2014
Directors:
Michael Gaffarena
Shareholders:
Joseph Gaffarena 50%
Jane Zammit 50%
Although not technically involved in the company, on 8 August 2014 Daniel Zammit paid the company registration fee of €1,200 at BOV, as shown by MFSA documents
Tyche Consultancy Limited
Incorporated: 7 May 2015
Directors:
Daniel Zammit
Francesco Airo’
Shareholders:
Daniel Zammit 33.3%
Roderick Zammit 33.3%
Francesco Airo’ 33.3%
Reports allege that Daniel Zammit had regularly borrowed Francesco Airo’s Ferrari before this company was set up and when he was still an Economic Crimes Unit investigator. Daniel’s brother Roderick was also an Economic Crime Unit inspector at the time of the company’s incorporation. Mr Airo’ operates in online gaming, a sector the Economic Crimes Unit keeps a close eye on, and is company secretary for New Network Limited – owned by Sicilian Giuseppe Marotta and which has a Malta Gaming Authority licence.
Zurmed Trading Limited
Incorporated: 29 May 2015
Directors:
Daniel Zammit
John Farrugia
Anthony Mario Vella
Shareholders:
Daniel Zammit 33%
Bernice Farrugia 17.5%
Deborah Farrugia 17.5%
Anthony Mario Vella 35%