Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa is so far removed from what is expected from a serious and unbiased Police Corps that he has become the "greatest obstacle to justice", Repubblika President Robert Aquilina said on Monday.

Addressing a group of journalists outside the Floriana Police Headquarters, Aquilina said it is clear that the Police Corps was aware of a “thieving criminal system” relating to the benefits scheme in which money intended for those suffering from serious disabilities or ailments was instead being sent elsewhere.

Aquilina said that the Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa used his authority dishonestly, like he has done in other situations of abuse throughout recent years, Aquilina added. He said that Gafa's response to the situation has been "total silence" with no statements published or conferences organised by the Police to address the matter.

"Just as Robert Abela has done, Gafa has used silence to help those who put him in his post avoid every political and criminal responsibility," he said. The Repubblika President continued that the Police Commissioner has taken those who benefited monetarily from the scheme to court but has yet to confront those who facilitated and organised the system.

He said that those who took advantage of their positions within the Government and its Ministries have been able to avoid the consequences and further contribute to corruption. "A complex scheme like this does not function simply with those who have so far been taken to court," he remarked. Aquilina added that former MP Silvio Grixti, who "has so much evidence against him that he had to resign from Parliament", has also not been confronted by the Police Commissioner.

Aquilina said that Gafa has not confronted anyone from the Labour Party who made use of this system to buy votes and win the 2023 election. "What sort of Police Commissioner is this?" He questioned.

He added that Gafa's inaction has become the greatest form of protection for criminal politicians and their accomplices. He added that Malta now knows that Gafa considers those in Government to be untouchable. "The Police Commissioner is proving that it is strong against the weak and weak against the strong."

Aquilina remarked that it is as if Gafa wants the people to believe that the signed falsified documents made their way to the people involved magically. He added that the Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner want the situation to be treated as if it were caused by paranormal activity, not members of the Labour Party. 

He said that there are witnesses who have detailed the involvement of trusted persons within Government agencies and ministries within the benefits scandal, including the Office of the Prime Minister. 

"The public became aware of this three weeks ago, but Angelo Gafa has known about this criminal system for a long time. He overlooked the criminal responsibility of the big fish." Aquilina continued that the Police Commissioner's behaviour has led to major injustices. He added that those in power have chosen to take advantage of the people's hardships to further their own interests and power.

The people at the head of the fraudulent schemes are not being properly investigated and scrutinised, the NGO's President said. He said that the people who took advantage of the system for monetary gain deserve to be taken to court, but that it is not enough and that those who facilitated the scheme from within the Government have an even bigger responsibility to shoulder. "We know that there is a mountain of evidence for the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General to take those who started and facilitated this scheme to court."

"No one is above the law," Aquilina said, "not even Angelo Gafa." He said that his message to the Police Commissioner is for him to stop protecting the criminal activities of politicians and stop abusing the power entrusted to him by the law. "Stop hiding from your responsibilities ... Honour your obligation to answer the questions of journalists during conferences which you promised you would do when you became the Police Commissioner."

 

The Repubblika President concluded by saying that if Gafa does not plan on changing his ways, then the only route left is for him to no longer be the Police Commissioner.