The government will convene a Security Committee meeting to discuss the issuing of hundreds of illegitimate visas to Libyans, following a call by the Opposition, the Times of Malta can confirm.

A government spokesman yesterday told this newspaper a meeting would be held to delve into the residency scam allegedly operated by former Labour Party treasurer Joe Sammut.

“The government never had a problem with convening the Security Committee, as it has done on a regular basis,” the spokesman said.

He was reacting to scathing criticism from Opposition leader Simon Busuttil who yesterday questioned why Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had not called the meeting and had instead remained silent on the matter.

Speaking on Nationalist Party radio, Dr Busuttil said the government should have also launched an inquiry to establish the facts behind the granting of residence permits to Libyans.

“Joseph Muscat needs to explain whether these visas will be revoked and what is being done to establish what happened in the institutions which issued these documents,” he said.

Last week Mr Sammut was charged with fraud and money laundering after he allegedly aided Libyans in obtaining residency in Malta. He allegedly falsified documents to register companies.

Dr Busuttil meanwhile reiterated claims that the scam smacked of “institutionalised corruption”