Civil society NGO Repubblika has filed an application calling on the courts to order the police commissioner to prosecute Pilatus Bank officials.

Repubblika president Robert Aquilina said on Friday that a magisterial inquiry found that there may have been trading in influence between Ali Sadr, the former chairman of the bank, and Keith Schembri, former chief of staff to PM Joseph Muscat.

He said that, despite these findings, and the recommendations of the inquiry, the police have so far only taken action against the bank and one of its employees. “We will not allow Angelo Gafa, Alexandra Mamo and Victoria Buttigieg go down the same path as Laurence Cutajar, Ian Abdilla and Peter Grech.”

He said a copy of the inquiry was handed to the police last year.

The inquiry, he said, had found evidence of criminal activity and other crimes, including money laundering, trading in influence, criminal association, making false statements to public authorities, and organising or financing a group with the intention of committing a crime. 

Despite having been given a copy of the report 15 months ago, the police have failed to act, he continued. REpubblika has twice written to Commissioner Gafa but was ignored, Aquilina said, adding that the commission was ignoring the outcome of the inquiry and refusing to comply with its orders. 

Aquilina said Repubblika has requested the court to order the police to prosecute other individuals named in the inquiry after hearing its evidence.

The court filing was signed by lawyer Jason Azzopardi.