The Malta Police Union has called for an independent probe into the police's failure to arrest a man wanted in Germany. 

Iosif Galea left Malta multiple times in spite of being subject to a European Arrest Warrant.

Galea, a former Malta Gaming authority official, was arrested in Italy in May as part of an investigation into tax evasion by German authorities. 

Home Affairs Byron Camilleri earlier this week said that the police's complaint board is investigating the matter.

The Malta Police Union considers the allegations being put forward against the Police Force, and members of the Police Force, as very serious as these might have repercussions on one or many of our members.

To this regard, we deem that the decision to have the Independent Police Complaint Board, established through Chapter 164 of the Laws of Malta not correct as this Board does not have enough statutory powers to investigate, especially in the area of criminal matters.

This issue related to Police Investigations which are exempt in terms of the Freedom of Information Act and also members of the Police Force cannot disclose them unless ordered to do so by a Court. In view of the above, and keeping in mind in particular the overriding imperative of any Inquiry worthy of its name to arrive at the FULL truth, and in order to avoid any frame-up or cover up, the Union is requesting the Prime Minister or the Minister for Home Affairs, National Security, Security, Reforms and Equality, to appoint a proper and real independent Inquiry.

The inquiry, the police union said, will be able to administer an oath to any witness and to any person concerned in the Inquiry, and require them to give evidence and to produce documents in their possession or under their custody in such circumstances as they could be required to give evidence or produce documents before a court of law.

 The Malta Police Union will not accept any findings by any Board which is not independent, or seen to be independent. This is another step, the Malta Police Union is taking to ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done.