The Superintendent in charge of the Police Traffic Section has resigned amid an investigation into alleged overtime abuse involving more than half of the unit’s personnel.

Sources said Superintendent Walter Spiteri has resigned with immediate effect. He is expected to be among the officers charged in court. Spiteri was reinstated into the Malta Police Force in January 2017.

At least two inspectors are also expected to be charged for claiming payments for overtime they never worked.

The Police Internal Affairs Office within the Police Corps has arrested around 30 traffic section personnel in what has been described as a “major racket.” The racket has been under investigation for a number of weeks and was exposed by a whistleblower.

A magisterial inquiry is also underway.

In a statement, the police said that a contingency plan has been set in place to make up for the absence of the officers from the roads while they are being investigated.

Sources, however, said the force was experiencing a logistical nightmare since more than half of the traffic branch is currently under arrest and under investigation.

The Malta Independent reported yesterday that the offices of the traffic branch have been sealed and the arrested officers have had their service motorcycles taken away. The vehicles are being kept at the CID branch at the police headquarters in Floriana.