Sources said all four experts: pharmacist Mario Mifsud, analyst Godwin Sammut, technical officer Joseph Belli and serologist Robert Cardona, have been contacted. The first three reported for work at the MNL yesterday to discuss their contracts. The fourth one, who was abroad over the weekend when the development was registered, was called to discuss his contract yesterday afternoon and is expected to continue discussions in the next few days, possibly today.

The forensic scientists have not had a place of work since the OHSA issued a stop order, instructing them not to carry out work inside the offices at Evan’s Building in Valletta.

As a result of the lack of a Forensic Laboratory, court operations were stalling because the testimonies and report of the forensic experts were missing

The decision to combine the Forensic Laboratory and the Malta National Laboratory brought to an end a four-week-long saga, with magistrates, members of the judiciary and politicians complaining about the state of affairs inside the laboratory.

Sources said the Forensic Laboratory was originally part of the National Laboratory. However, when the MNL was being restructured, for some reason the laboratories, which offer a wide array of services, were separated