The Nationalist Party said in a statement on Thursday that the NAO, in a report published on Thursday, has confirmed its issues with the way the Maltese Consulate in Algiers issued visas.

The statement signed by Carm Mifusd Bonnici, shadow minister for foreign affairs and Beppe Fenech Adami, shadow minister for national security stated that the report raised a number a points that were worrisome.

The PN said that political responsibility should be shouldered and that due to a lack of transparency the Attorney General could not assure that illicit payments were not processed to facilitate visa processing.

In fact the statement goes on to say the one in every four that received a visa did not return to their country and all traces of the individuals were lost. 500 were refused by the police for security reasons and they still received a visa from the consulate.

The report also confirms that an unexplained decision was taken by Castille in 2013 to open a consulate, when the consulate was the prime minister’s cousin, the PN said.

Considering the Attorney General could not confirm the allegations, the PN noted that the vetting of persons who applications was inadequate.