Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has asked the Ombudsman to launch an investigation into Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa and the media officer of the police force Brandon Pisani over their handling of the Iosif Galea situation.

"These were in possession of a European Arrest Warrant against Iosif Galea, issued by Germany, for more than a year. Despite this, they took no action and did not arrest him. Not only that, but they allowed him to travel outside of Malta a number of times," Cassola said.

Gaming consultant Iosif Galea, who used to work for the Malta Gaming Authority, was recently arrested in Italy over a German European Arrest Warrant linked to a tax investigation, the Times of Malta reports. A separate European Arrest Warrant was issued by the Maltese Authorities and is suspected of conspiracy together with leaking MGA insider information.

Cassola said: "More grave than that, when Galea was arrested in Brindisi, in Italy, at night between 14 and 15 May on the German warrant, Gafa and Pisani kept the news secret from the Maltese people. Then they played a dirty game."

"When they knew that Galea was under arrest in Italy, they issued a Maltese arrest warrant for Galea, to give the impression that Galea was arrested due to their arrest warrant.," Cassola said. "They used the good faith of a Maltese journalist to announce the arrest warrant on 27 May."

"As citizens, it is owed to us that the leadership of the police protect us and not deceive us," Cassola said.

He asked the Ombudsman to investigate: "why the Maltese police did not arrest Galea for a whole year; who gave the order for him to remain free; who gave the order for Galea not to be stopped from travelling; if Gafa had political pressure placed on him not to take action against Galea; why Gafa and Pisani kept his arrest in Italy secret; why Gafa issued a European Arrest Warrant from Malta more than a week after he was already arrested."

"Mr Ombudsman, this is a serious situation. Malta needs a Police Force that protects citizens against delinquents and not vice-versa," Cassola wrote.

It had been reported that Galea was arrested whilst on holiday with his partner in a group which included Joseph Muscats. Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat denies having any kind of relationship with former Malta gaming authority employee Iosif Galea and said that Galea was in the group because he is the boyfriend to a long-time friend of his, who also happened to be in the group.