Former Central Bank deputy governor Alfred Mifsud has been appointed consultant to Foreign Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela, Times of Malta is informed.

A consultancy contract, issued through a direct order, was signed between the government and Mr Mifsud, a former chairman of Labour’s TV station, last December 27, providing for a monthly remuneration of €1,500, excluding VAT, according to sources close to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The sources said it was not yet clear what kind of consultancy was Mr Mifsud providing, adding he had not yet been spotted at the ministry’s office in Valletta.

The ministry was asked for a copy of the contract and what kind of advice was Mr Mifsud giving but the questions remained unanswered.

It is not yet clear what kind of consultancy is Alfred Mifsud providing

A request for a copy of the contract was also made under the Freedom of Information Act but it was declined by the government on grounds that it was not in the public interest. The ministry had previously asked for an extension to react to the newspaper’s request, stating it needed more time to consult with Mr Mifsud on whether his contract was to be divulged.

“The contract for service with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion is for services which are not regarded as within top management roles, hence, the contract is not being disclosed in view that the public interest does not outweigh data protection considerations,” the ministry said.

Times of Malta has now asked the Data Protection Commissioner to look into the matter.

Mr Mifsud had been given the appointment at the Central Bank soon after he had sold his private business, Crystal Finance, in 2015.

He was touted to succeed Josef Bonnici whose term as governor ended in 2016 but Mr Mifsud pulled out following allegations by his former partner of impropriety when he was chairman of Mid-Med Bank (now HSBC) between 1996 and 1998. Mr Mifsud denied the allegations.