The 141 benefit fraud cases that have already been decided have been handled by four magistrates in an attempt to make them less identifiable, independent candidate Arnold Cassola said Wednesday.

“The big vote buying scheme, organised Mafia style through the dishing out of fake disability benefits, would have passed under the radar had it not been for inquisitive journalists,” he said.

It was difficult to notice because there is no compilation of evidence in court in these cases. The fraudsters would have already admitted to the police and would already have promised to give the money back.

This means very short procedures in court, resulting in no names of the “political mafia that organized the whole racket being mentioned in court,” Cassola said.

€330,000 euros of the 2.1 million defrauded have been paid back till now by the 141 convicted.

“Hopefully, now that we are aware of this political mafia organised scheme, there will be more transparency when the next 620 persons are arraigned,” Cassola said.

To start off with, how many millions do the police expect to recoup from these next 620 persons?

Then, since the police must be in possession of names of canvassers, ministry employees and other go-betweens, can the police inform as from when the arraignment in court of these upper echelons is scheduled?, Cassola asked.

The Sunday Times has revealed that former Labour MP Silvio Grixti was implicated in the scandal.