The government will not remove former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit from his role as head of the new enforcement agency tasked with putting an end to abusive practices by wardens.
Following the publication of an inquiry report in relation to the Zammit family’s connections to businessmen, as well as a murder investigation, this newsroom asked the Justice Ministry whether Ray Zammit’s position was still tenable.
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici – who is minister responsible for wardens – said that in his inquiry report, Mr Justice Michael Mallia concluded that Mr Zammit's conduct was censurable but not serious. Dr Bonnici also said that Mr Justice Mallia said that had Mr Zammit still formed part of the Police Force, he would have suggested the imposition of a warning.
The minister said that after taking cognisance of the inquiry and its conclusions regarding suggested disciplinary proceedings, he warned Mr Zammit not to behave in a similar manner again, despite the fact that he no longer formed part of the Police Corps.
“We now look forward to keep delivering the promised change in local enforcement,” Dr Bonnici continued.
Our questions to Dr Bonnici came after the publication of the findings of Judge Michael Mallia’s inquiry which was ordered by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and which shed light on the Zammit family, including Mr Zammit’s two sons – Daniel and Roderick – who both served in the economic crimes unit. While Daniel Zammit was boarded out of the force for “medical reasons”, his brother Roderick was transferred to the Hamrun police station pending investigations.
The inquiry looked into family Zammit’s business links with Joe Gaffarena and Hugo Chetcuti, which were “all in full breach of the police code of ethics and the public service management code”. In his conclusions, Judge Mallia said that had Ray Zammit still formed part of the force, he would have suggested that he faces disciplinary steps under the Public Service Management Code. Ray Zammit does not form part of the Police Force any longer and is out on pension, but is now head of the enforcement agency.
Daniel was also investigated over the fact that he was leading prosecutor in a murder case involving Mr Gaffarena’s son-in-law. The inquiry revealed that Daniel Zammit stalled the murder charge against Joe Gaffarena’s son-in-law Stephen Caruana by demanding swabs of Romina Gaffarena to match with tissue samples lifted by police at the scene of the crime, lengthening proceedings by at least five years.
However, Daniel Zammit has denied delaying the court proceedings and said that the delays were not his fault. He also played down the shares he has in a private company.
The inquiry also found that Daniel Zammit, a shareholder in Diabolik Entertainment with Luke Chetcuti, son of Hugo, threw a birthday party for his brother Roderick at the villa of Hugo Chetcuti, the owner of various Paceville establishments. The Malta Independent on Sunday had revealed that Daniel Zammit had gone into business with an online gaming Sicilian director – Francesco Airo – two weeks after he was boarded out of the force. His brother Roderick also forms part of the company. On this point alone, the inquiry found that Roderick Zammit should not be forming part of a gaming company when he is a police inspector and should sell out in the shortest time possible.
Mr Chetcuti’s lawyer also issued a statement saying that he was never called in by the inquiry board over these allegations while also pointing out that the retired judge’s report was “out of place, baseless, gratuitous and defamatory”. He did not rule out taking legal proceedings.
The Attorney General is to decide whether criminal steps will be taken against Daniel Zammit. If the AG decides that criminal steps are taken against Zammit, the former economic crimes inspector would be charged with trading in influence.