The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology has said that it has commissioned an audit firm to conduct "a comprehensive review of its processes," after a senior employee was charged with defrauding €2.3 million from the school.

Francine Farrugia, who worked as a finance manager at MCAST and who was a Nationalist Party local councillor, was on Thursday charged with misappropriating €2.3 million from the school. A court heard how Farrugia, who had access to the payroll, entered salaries twice across a two year period before police eventually caught on.  Farrugia has since been suspended from her job and has resigned from all of her positions within the PN, including as a local councillor in Siggiewi. She denies the charges.

The allegations have resulted in calls for an internal investigation by the PN into what it described as the "auditing failures" at MCAST. The ADPD has called for an NAO investigation.

MCAST in a statement on Friday evening, said that  "since January 2025, the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) has implemented several administrative changes, including updates to departmental responsibilities and internal processes. As part of these reforms, and following recommendations from the Auditor General's report, MCAST began introducing changes to the payroll system in the first quarter of the year."

"The system features a built-in verification mechanism and is integrated with other platforms to strengthen governance, improve transparency, and ensure accountability. To minimise disruption, the system is being rolled out in phases over the summer months, a period when student activity is reduced and payment volumes are lower. This phased approach is designed to ensure a smooth transition in the system," it said.

"MCAST also confirms that, as part of its ongoing commitment to good governance, it has voluntarily commissioned one of Malta's leading independent audit firms to conduct a comprehensive review of its processes and to make the necessary recommendations."

MCAST said that it is actively following the developments related to this case, including legal processes, including those aimed at the recovery of any public funds involved.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry referred to the MCAST statement, and said: "whilst respecting MCAST's independence and autonomy, the Ministry shall be offering MCAST the services of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department (IAID) within the same Ministry. Having the powers of the law to do so, the IAID shall conduct an independent investigation and scrutiny. The Ministry is following this matter of grave concern, leaving no stone unturned and demands that justice is done."