local news

Tapping applied freely by Maltese security services

The mystery surrounding the sacking of three police officers from the corps was the result of covert operations being conducted by the Security Services.

MaltaToday is informed that the undercover operations included the use of long lens observations and tapping of phones.

Inspectors Ivan Portelli and David Gatt along with Se

rgeant Michael Buttigieg were made redundant by a letter sent to them two weeks ago. They were not given any official reason for their dismissal and since then Portelli and Gatt have taken the case to court.

Informed sources told MaltaToday that the dismissal of the officers may have come about after they were spotted by Security Service snoops in the company of high profile individuals. The source added that the individuals had very close links with the judiciary.

Police Commissioner George Grech declined to comment on the mystery case and no reply was forthcoming from the Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg. In reply to a separate request, Dr Borg referred MaltaToday to the Security Services Act when we asked him about the criteria being adopted when authorising telephone tapping.

Sources confirmed that the Secret Service has been intercepting communications of various individuals in a bid to crack down on certain activities. However, it seems that it is not only the suspected individuals that are being monitored but also some high profile personalities.

The Security Service is Malta’s secret service version and it was established in 1996 after Parliament enacted the Security Services Act. Police Commissioner George Grech is the head of the security branch.

The law gives the Security Service wide ranging powers to investigate crime, including telephone tapping and interference with other forms of communication. The law stipulates that only the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs may authorise these interceptions.

Furthermore, warrants should be used specifically for the intention they were issued and may be repealed at any time by the Prime Minister or the Minister for Home Affairs.