ADPD calls on Auditor General to investigate MCAST following alleged €2.3m fraud
Francine Farrugia's alleged fraud was uncovered by police, not the college
Malta’s green party has called on the Auditor General to investigate MCAST’s financial administration after one of its finance managers appeared in court yesterday accused of embezzling €2.3 million from the institution.
MCAST finance manager and PN councillor Francine Farrugia is accused of siphoning off millions to buy property, cars and to go on a €113,000 spending spree at luxury London department store Harrods.
In a letter addressed to Auditor General Charles Deguara, ADPD said MCAST appears to “lack internal controls over expenditure”, noting it was the police that had initiated an investigation into Farrugia.
“In light of this, I am asking you to investigate the setup of the financial administration of MCAST and in particular, regarding what internal controls are or are not in place to ensure effective accountability of the use of public funds.”
The letter was signed by ADPD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo.
At the time of publication, MCAST had not responded to questions sent by Times of Malta to the college on Thursday.
In court on Wednesday, inspector Wayne Rodney Borg said the Financial Crimes Investigation Department began investigating Farrugia in June.
Through her work as a manager in the accounting section of MCAST, she had access to salaries and "did double salaries" between September 2023 and May 2025, he said; she issued either double salaries to herself or issued one for the employees and one for herself.
Analysis of her financial records showed she had transferred €422,420 into her bank accounts and €1.9 million into her Revolut account.
The police contacted MCAST in July to inform them of the investigation and prevented a €122,000 transfer to Farrugia's account.
Lawyer Thea Lynn Cesare, representing MCAST, asked for a media ban on the name of the educational institute. The court refused, saying there were no legal grounds to order a ban.
An emergency MCAST board meeting was scheduled for Thursday, where the intention was to suspend Farrugia, Cesare said.
Farrugia’s lawyer Peter Fenech told the court his client was mentally unwell and pleading not guilty.