There are 100 pending applications for a benefits fraud amnesty, Prime Minister Robert Abela said during an interview on Thursday evening.

Abela was speaking to Newsbook editor-in-chief Matthew Xuereb in an interview which was broadcast on Thursday night.

He was asked about the benefits racket, which was one of the scandals to rock the government early this year as it was revealed that hundreds had received social benefits that they were not entitled to.  Former PL MP Silvio Grixti is among those charged with leading the racket.

The government announced in April that it was offering a Presidential Pardon to those who received social benefits illegally as part of the racket. The government said that the Presidential Pardon will only be for those people who pay back everything that they illegally received in the severe disability racket, and amongst other things, that they testify against those who ran the scheme.

There will be no pardon for those who were the instigators or promoters of the scheme, the government had said.

Speaking on Thursday, Abela said that the absolute majority of these people are individuals who, while technically not entitled to social benefits, are still suffering from other ailments. Abela said that seeing their situation makes you feel for them, due to disease and social problems they may be dealing with.

The Prime Minister said that each application is being evaluated by the Ministry for Justice and the Social Security Department, ensuring that each applicant is complying with the conditions set by the Cabinet, including a condition that they are willing to testify against those who allegedly organised the scheme.

“Those who qualify for all the criteria set by the Cabinet would be entitled to a Presidential Pardon,” the Prime Minister said.