OPM orders inquiry into former acting police commissioner’s son

The Office of the Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into allegations surrounding the son of former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit who was the prosecutor in a 2008 murder case.

The inquiry was launched after questions were raised on the Zammit’s business

connections with company owner Joe Gaffarena, and Daniel Zammit’s role as a prosecutor in the murder charges of Gaffarena’s son-in-law.

In a statement, the OPM said the inquiry will be presided by judge Michael Mallia.

“The investigation and prosecution into Neville Baldacchino’s murder took place under the previous administration. The inquiry asks the Judge to investigate whatever issues or other persons it deems necessary,” it said.

Mallia was given four weeks to carry out the inquiry and recommend steps to improve existent procedures surrounding police officers’ business interests.

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party welcomed the inquiry but said it was set up a week late. It said the “scandal included people close to the Labour government and Castille”.

The PN said the Prime Minister has said nothing about what steps will be taken against Ray Zammit – who is the head of the local enforcement agency – and Daniel Zammit who was transferred “to a sensitive position” within the Police Force.

Doubts have been raised over Daniel Zammit’s role as co-prosecutor in the murder charges against Stephen Caruana.

While it is understood that Zammit’s shares were originally held by Ray Zammit and his two sons prior to a transfer registered in June 2014, it transpires that before the business relationship was set up Daniel Zammit had been appearing as a co-prosecutor in murder charges against Joe Gaffarena’s son-in-law Stephen Caruana.

Daniel Zammit’s name rose to prominence when the police inspector was medically ‘boarded out’ of the police corps within four days of making his request, and then drafted into a €60,000 position within Enemalta’s internal audit division.

Up until this year he had been prosecuting people – 25 in total – charged with bribing Enemalta technicians to hack their smart meters, a bust originally carried out by Enemalta’s internal audit.

His new post was instantly terminated by energy minister Konrad Mizzi, as the majority shareholder of Enemalta plc.