Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta's former permanent representative to the EU, has denied he ever received a transition allowance of some €225,500 after he was forced to resign in June 2012.

Mr Cachia Caruana had stepped down after a motion against him was approved in parliament.

Foreign Minister George Vella said in reply to a parliamentary question yesterday that the termination benefits and allowances paid to Malta’s former Permanent Representative amounted to €255,933.

Answering a question by MP Silvio Schembri, Dr Vella explained that these included €179,931 in terminal benefits, €36,453 in notice payment and €39,549 in vacation leave reimbursement.

Dr Vella said that Mr Cachia Caruana was also entitled to a monthly €6,265 transition allowance for a period of three years.

However Mr Cachia Caruana when contacted said he had not claimed and did not receive the transition allowance.