The reports in the media over the past few days about the disability benefits scandal confirm Labour’s insatiable lust for power and the police’s complicity in hiding Labour’s dirt, ADPD – The Green Party said Monday

The police investigation of MP Silvio Grixti and his immediate resignation in December 2021 means that the police already had information of the scandal by then. It is clear that Grixti resigned to shift the focus off the Labour Party and the Government during the election campaign.

How much information did the Police know by then? Why didn't they start taking the necessary action that very day? As a result of this delay the Police ended up protecting the Labour Party in its vote stealing exercise which seems to have involved 800 people. The Police kept things under wrap because of the elections. The Police Force has protected Labour from the potential fallout from their own filth during the election campaign, the party said.

This complicity in protecting Labour should be investigated. While the processes of today’s investigations may be proper, the delay in the actual investigations has led to vote buying. Investigations into the racket need to leave no stone unturned and all lines of inquiry need to be pursued. The reports in the Times of Malta that at least some beneficiaries of the racket are claiming they were required to pay kickbacks to PL operatives are disgusting and of great concern.

ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci concluded:”Given the timeline of the case and the withholding of information two years ago, it is of no wonder that the freedom and independence of our police force continues to be questioned. We will continue following developments in this case of electoral corrupt practices, abuse of power, institutional corruption and money laundering, and inform our European party, the European Green Party and the Green Group in the European Parliament of the corrupt political playingfield we operate in.”