Over four years have passed since the start of a turbulent political period that ended with the resignation of a prime minister and several key government officials, yet none of the many officials linked to crime and corruption have been arraigned in court.

Malta’s supposed quest for justice remains elusive, and the country’s so-called ‘untouchables’ remain just that.

Last week, civil society NGO Repubblika took the police commissioner to court, accusing him of failing to prosecute a number of individuals named in the Pilatus Bank inquiry. These include disgraced OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and alleged Daphne mastermind Yorgen Fenech.

The inquiry, which cost the taxpayer millions of euro, had found that there may have been trading in influence by Schembri, Fenech and former bank chairman Ali Sadr, Repubblika said. Despite recommending immediate action against several individuals, only the bank itself and one former employee have been taken to court so far.

And this is not just about Pilatus Bank, mind you. Schembri, for example, has been linked to the murder itself, having allegedly known about Fenech’s escape plans. He has also been linked to the phantom job that was given to self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma. At least, in the latter case, it seems that things are moving, and both Schembri and Fenech will reportedly be arraigned later on this summer.

But Schembri, Fenech and others have been linked to several other alleged crimes and acts of corruption, and it is hard to comprehend how, despite all the claims, all the inquiries, they have not yet been charged.

So far, Fenech has only been charged with masterminding the journalist’s murder, while Schembri has only faced charges related to the Allied Newspapers scandal.

While we understand that investigations might be complex, especially those involving financial crime, things are dragging on for far too long.

We were told, after all, that the police force has been bolstered with a new anti-financial crime unit, and the seemingly incompetent and inept leaders of several key units were replaced. So why is progress still so slow? How much longer will it take for these claims to be investigated, for the recommendations of the costly inquiries to be followed up and acted upon?

Sometimes it feels like we are being made to forget everything that happened, that justice will not be carried out.

The fact that a disgraced former prime minister who was once voted as the ‘most corrupt person’ has been once again recommended for a public role (this time in sports) is a clear sign that many have forgotten what the country went through in its very recent past. It is a sign that many are happy with forgiving and whitewashing.

But while Malta is in summer slumber mode and has been fatigued by the Covid pandemic and a recent general election, these alleged crimes cannot be forgotten.

Carrying out reforms is good, but reforms on their own are not enough. What is the point of strengthening laws and the institutions if justice is not carried out?

The country has still not healed, and it needs to do so, now, not later.