Despite all the criticism, we managed to solve several major cases, former Police Commissioner told Prime Minister Robert Abela in his resignation letter.

Cutajar resigned earlier this month, after having served as chief of police for three and a half years.

He had, for months, been facing criticism and calls to step down by the Opposition, the media and civil society groups. Cutajar was criticized for the police force’s apparent lack of action on major political scandals, including the Panama Papers and leaked FIAU reports pointing to money laundering by senior government officials.

His resignation letter was tabled in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, in reply to a PQ by PN Karol Aquilina.

“Throughout my career, I have always brought the interests of the Police Force, its members and of justice before anything else,” Cutajar wrote to the PM on 17 January.  

“As you know, over the past months we have made great strides forward in one of the biggest cases the country has ever seen. Despite the criticism directed at myself and at the force during the investigation, we managed to solve several major cases.”

“Despite all this, I understand that that appointment of a new Prime Minister requires changes with the aim of carrying out the desired reforms.”

Last week, PM Abela announced a new method of appointing Police Commissioners. There will be a public call, with applicants shortlisted to two by the Public Service Commission. The PM will then pick one of the candidates, who would then have to be approved by Parliament’s Public Appointments Board.

The Opposition has criticized the new system for not including a two-thirds Parliamentary approval.