Police to charge 230 on Transport Malta licensing fraud

230 persons, including three Transport Malta employees are expected to be charged in court later this month in connection with an alleged fraudulent scam in the issuing of licenses between 2007 and 2009.

7 January 2011, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

The Economic Crimes Unit has prepared the charges against 230 persons who allegedly were issued with licenses for driving categories without ever having been sat for tests.

Three Transport Malta employees are expected to be charged with organizing the alleged scam. The matter was discovered following a detailed audit compiled by an audit firm that was engaged to investigate irregularities within the licensing division of TM.

The audit firm concluded that the licenses were issued without any payments made to TM, while a number of fiscal receipts were allegedly cancelled.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit has been appointed to hear the cases, whereby the TM employees are to be charged with complicity in falsification, corruption, and false oaths. According to police sources, during the investigations it transpired in one particular case, the sum of €233 was paid for the issuance of a license.

More from Karl Stagno-Navarra

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One of the TM Malta employees is a well know PN canvasser. The rest i don't know who they are but the problem of 'untouchable' canvasser is well know in any entity that has government connections. Air Malta, Enemalta all have similar issues. Over at Sicily - they also have the same problem - people drawing salaries from government entities while working for the Cosa Nostra. Its all the same racket at the end of the day.

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This is symptomatic of small fry having too much or exclusive power in a small state. Think of the transformation a cheap green or dark blue top can suddenly give to wardens on the streets and security personal in places like Mater Dei. Think of one driving lesson a week for about a year at 20 euros each time until an instructor feels a learner is ready for the test. I am actually surprised the 'police source' was surprised that getting a license through the black market is 233 euros. Beyond legality and morality it seems actually cheap. Revisit the whole system including the details. Whenever there are weakness in a system employed by a small state this is what happens. But few are really ready to rock the boat. Nothing much has changed.