Failures at Identity Malta, with the result that a number of individuals were issued with more than one ID card, are not something new, with certain cases coming to light as early as July 2016.

It was during a court case, against a Serb who was accused of theft, that a court noted that the accused had two different ID cards. The accused had pleaded guilty to stealing cash and a ladder and was jailed for two years. The judgement, handed down by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, was in the case Police vs Dejan Zunic, holder of ID card number 33***A as well as ID card number 132***A.

It is believed that there are many others who, like Mr Zunic were issued with more than one identity document by Identity Malta.

Yesterday, The Malta Independent on Sunday reported that Identity Malta is facing an internal crisis with the 'collapse' of the ID cards system one year ahead of a general election. An internal report leaked to the newspaper by sources within Identity Malta showed that out of a sample of 300 people on the ID card registry, 80 have been found to be holding more than one ID card, with five even holding three ID cards under the same name with three different ID numbers.

The problem is so complex that an internal inquiry was called some weeks ago with experts telling Identity Malta that the only way to determine the extent of the 'collapse' of the system would be by matching the photos on all ID cards issued by the system, which number approximately half a million.

In a short statement yesterday, the Justice Ministry said it was “categorically denying” the report that the ID cards system was experiencing a crisis. It said no committee had been appointed and no report was drawn up, but it did not deny the fact that 80 people from a sample of 300 had more than one ID card. The ministry simply laid the blame on the previous administration, saying that the system, save for some slight improvements, was still the same.

The Malta Independent on Sunday said that Identity Malta chief Joe Vella Bonnici called in the best brains to help the agency deal with the crisis. Everything was kept secret and under lock and key, with only a few selected people cleared to work on the sensitive investigation.

It seems that after experts established that the 'collapse' of the system could spiral out of control, it was decided only some weeks ago to select a sample of ID card holders and to conduct a more personalised investigation.

That sample consisted of 300 people who were born abroad but who, for a valid reason, are unable to provide a birth certificate. Such individuals are usually issued with a provisional ID card number which ends with the letter 'P', and they are later given a proper ID card number. The result of the internal investigation revealed that over a quarter (26.6%) of the sample proved to have two or more valid ID cards under the same name.

The sources who spoke to this newsroom said that one cannot really establish the extent of the damage unless all the ID card photos are cross-referenced.

The 'collapse' of Identity Malta's system has created an unprecedented problem for the Electoral Commission since it is the body tasked with issuing regular electoral registers, according to which people can obtain voting documents. As matters stand, all those who possess one, two or three ID cards are entitled to the same number of voting documents per person, be it for the general election or for local council and/or European Parliament elections.

Last week, PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami revealed in Parliament that there were individuals who were registered twice, in some cases even three times, in the electoral register. He said this was a threat to democracy because there individuals could vote more than once.

Reacting to the story yesterday, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said the PN will not allow the government to tamper with democracy, and the general election.

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In reply, the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government said it is not true that Identity Malta is facing an internal crisis. It is not true that there is a collapse of the ID cards system. There is no internal report relating to problems emanating from sampling of the ID card registry. It is not true that an internal inquiry was called. 

The ministry said that the ID Cards Unit of Identity Malta only issues ID cards for Maltese citizens. Expatriates (be they European Union or third country nationals) are not issued an ID card but a residence document. This residence document does not entitle anyone to vote in general elections and there is absolutely no link at all between a residence document and the right to vote in general elections because holders of a residence document are not entitled to vote in general elections.

Secondly, Dejan Zunic, a Serb national who was arraigned in court in 2016, was not in possession of two different ID cards, because expatriates are issued with a mere residence document.  Furthermore, it is also not true that Mr Zunic was issued with two valid residence documents at the same time. Mr Zunic was originally in possession of a residence document issued on the basis of a Yugoslavian passport. Years later, when his previous residence document was expired, he submitted an application for another residence permit on the basis of a new Serbian passport showing a different surname.   

With regards to identity cards, once a Maltese citizen is issued with a new ID card all previous cards are invalidated and Identity Malta holds and registers details for tracking purposes, the ministry said.

Also, the fact that a Maltese citizen holds a valid identity card does not entitle him or her to an automatic right to vote. An example is the case of Maltese citizens who have been given an effective and serious prison sentence by the Courts. The Electoral Commission, and not Identity Malta, is the body which regulates issues of voting rights and Identity Malta has no say whatsoever in determining which Maltese citizens have a right to vote or otherwise.