ALE officer suspended, two others transferred over ‘hunting bribes’ investigation

Senior police sources confirmed with MaltaToday that PC Kenneth Sevasta has been suspended from duty pending further investigations, while another has been ‘temporarily’ transferred to a police station, and a sergeant within the same unit has been ordered to undertake clerical work.

The case was reportedly revealed last April when a hunter was intercepted by BirdLife Malta activists while hunting illegally in Mtarfa.

The hunter, identified as 38-year-old Eric Scicluna from Mtarfa, was photographed and appeared in the media when he was spotted by passers-by and subsequently arrested and interrogated by Inspector Paul Miruzzi.

When cautioned during interrogation, Scicluna reportedly asked to see Police Commissioner John Rizzo and told him that he paid officers to keep him informed on any possible raids in the Mtarfa area.

MaltaToday is informed that Scicluna gave exhaustive information about his payments to officers, while also opening up and alleging other cases he knew about where officers were on the take by other hunters in different areas of the island.

The revelations reportedly shocked the Commissioner, who launched an immediate internal investigation.

MaltaToday is informed that Scicluna has been questioned at least twice in relation to alleged bribery and has also been warned that he too may be charged for corrupting police officers.

Sevasta is expected to be charged before a Magistrates court and also before the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the coming days.