Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has penned a letter to elected MPs in Districts 2, 3 and 4, to publicly declare that they had not sent voters to former Labour MP Silvio Grixti.

Cassola referred to last Sunday's Times of Malta article which reported that Grixti was implicated in a scheme which saw people receiving benefits for disabilities they did not have or were not entitled to.

Grixti resigned from parliament back in December 2021.

Cassola said that reports highlighted an organization that, through its actions, had been manipulating votes.

He described the allegations as "blatant clientelism."

Cassola said that this incident cost, and keeps costing the country millions, which he said were stolen by fraud from the mouths of patients, and those individuals who truly need medical care and social assistance.

He said that Zejtun, Paola and Zabbar were all mentioned as areas having people who have benefited from this "organized fraud."

"Hence, as the elected representatives from these districts, I urge you to make a public declaration that neither you, nor your canvassers, persons of trust, or customer care personnel have ever sent voters to Dr. Silvio Grixti," Cassola said.

The open letter is addressed to Prime Minister Robert Abela, and PL MPs Alison Zerafa Civelli, Chris Agius and Glenn Bedingfield representing District 2 from the PL, and PN MP Stephen Spiteri.

For District 3, Cassola addressed Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, and PL MPs Carmelo Abela, Andy Ellul and Ray Abela, and PN MP Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

Cassola addressed the PL MPs representing District 4, being Jonathan Attard, Byron Camilleri, Chris Bonnet and Katya De Giovanni, as well as PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut.