A senior army officer has sued the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces of Malta, claiming discrimination when he was passed over for promotion, and requesting payment of damages.

The case was filed by Lt Col Andrew Mallia, who said that on September 27, 2013, Pierre Vassallo, Mark Said, Jeffrey Curmi and Mark Mallia were promoted to colonel after having been promoted to lieutenant colonel just two weeks previously.

The Commanding Officer of the time had declared that he had not recommended accelerated promotion and it was the minister of the time, Manwel Mallia, who had taken the relevant decisions.

Lt Col Mallia said he had referred the matter to the President, in terms of the law and in September last year he was told that the President had found no irregularity.

Lt Col Mallia said the promotions were made in breach of the law and regulations because no accelerated promotion had been recommended by the Commander and normal procedures were not observed,

Furthermore, the four officers could not be better than him in terms of qualifications and efficiency, not least because they had only served as lieutenant colonels for two weeks, and he served for three years.

It was clear that extraneous factors had played a part in their promotion, leading him to conclude that he had suffered discrimination.

He therefore requested the court to declare that his rights had been breached and to take the necessary remedial action, including the payment of damages.

Dr Andrew Borg Cardona filed the case.