Former policeman admits smuggling TCNs into Malta for non-existent work

A 46-year-old former police officer admitted to smuggling third-country nationals into Malta for non-existent work and was handed a suspended sentence and fined €23,300.

The man, who cannot be named by court order due to “ongoing investigations”, was also accused of making a false declaration to a public authority and of breaching the Immigration Act.

It is understood the case was flagged to police in May 2024, when officers received an email concerning the accused, a director of a company who was receiving payments from non-EU nationals who wanted to work in Malta for his company. 

When the individuals arrived in the country, however, they found there was no work for them and instead were asked to pay the accused more money for him to help them apply for work with other companies.

An Indian national told the police he arrived in Malta in January 2024 after receiving an ‘approval in principle’ letter and a visa to work for the company owned by the accused.

He claimed he paid a total of €8,000. The Indian national said that he had never signed any lease agreements or contracts before arriving in Malta.

Once the man arrived in Malta, he called the accused, who directed him to an employee. The latter told the foreign worker he would need to pay an additional €1,000 for the necessary documentation. He received a temporary authorisation to work but never got a job.

From the investigation, it emerged that the foreign worker was brought to Malta to work for a resort. However, no interview was carried out with the prospective worker.

He also said that documents submitted to Identità had not been signed by him and were uploaded to the system without his consent.

Another foreign worker said he paid €5,000. He similarly explained that upon his arrival, he found that there was no job waiting for him.

The investigators established that the man was sent to work at a local hotel, but, like the other worker, did not sign any of the documents filed with Identità on his behalf.

Another two Indian nationals paid €5,000 and €7,500 for non-existent jobs, while an Egyptian national was asked by the accused to pay €2,000 to be registered with his company. The man agreed and carried out some plastering works, including at the accused’s villa.

While the Egyptian national was paid for the other jobs, the accused did not pay him for his work on the villa. The accused allegedly told the man the work would be considered payment in kind for registering him with his company. The application was refused, and the accused refused to refund the money.

On Tuesday afternoon, the case was discussed out of earshot before the court informed the media in the room that there was a ban on the name of the accused.

It was later clarified by defence lawyer Joe Giglio that this was requested due to “ongoing investigations”.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court, in view of what had been discussed earlier, and since the man could help in ongoing investigations, handed him a 13-month prison term suspended for three years. He was also fined €23,300 to be paid in monthly instalments.

Magistrate Lara Lanfranco presided.

Police inspector Karl Roberts prosecuted.

Lawyers Noel Bianco, Joe Giglio and Mattea Giglio appeared for the accused.