[WATCH] Commissioner of Police on sick leave, could be expected to resign

Police Commissioner out on sick leave, Minister confirms

Police Commissioner Michael Cassar is out on sick leave pending the results of medical tests he recently underwent, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said.

“Michael Cassar was on holiday with his family when he returned to Malta and was admitted to hospital. He spent two days at the hospital and he is recovering at home now. We are waiting for further test results,” the Minister told the media this morning.

He denied that the police chief had tendered his resignation letter. The minister however insisted that Cassar’s future would be determined by the advice the Commissioner’s doctors will give.

“There is no letter of resignation as yet and I don’t know what’s going to happen. [Cassar] is a person first and foremost and it’s important that he follows medical advice. The decision is entirely up to him,” the minister said, dismissing claims that an eventual Cassar departure would have resulted from disagreements at work.

Pressed by MaltaToday whether there were other considerations why Cassar would want to leave, Abela reiterated that “there was no other reason why Cassar should leave”.

“[Cassar] only cited health reasons,” he added.

Abela also denied that Cassar wanted to step down because of “political pressure” not to investigate the Panama scandal.

“Politicians do not interfere in the works of the police force. It is up to the police to decide what to investigate,” the minister said. He went on to warn against “any speculations”.

The Malta Independent claimed that the Police Commissioner was unhappy with government’s planned decision to introduce a CEO – an allegation immediately shot down by the minister who pointed out that such plans had been announced well before Cassar became chief of police.

Both Cassar and Abela were appointed to their present role following the shooting incident that involved the driver of Abela’s predecessor. An electoral pledge of the Labour Party, the government wants to “modernise” the police force which would include a CEO. The CEO would report directly to the police commissioner.