Former Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia said police overtime was reviewed annually during his tenure, with no major irregularities ever flagged. 

Taking questions from reporters, Dr Farrugia, who is now Energy Minister, said internal investigations into overtime abuse by the police’s traffic unit had started as soon as it was flagged by a whistleblower last December. 

He said he was informed that the abuse probe was now broader than simply looking into traffic unit, with a number of other sections of the police being scrutinised as well. 

Asked who he felt should take responsibility for the alleged racket, Dr Farrugia said whichever officers where involved should face repercussions. On his part, he said he had done his duty by forwarding the whistleblower’s complaint to the police for an investigation. 

Dr Farrugia said a similar review exercise was being carried out at Energy Ministry, with an audit of overtime and other matters being conducted. 

In the coming weeks, he would be announcing how some individual cases of theft and other abuse from State entities within his portfolio had cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of euros, he said.