News 08/09/2002

Low profile for Security Service head

By Kurt SansoneIf the same time frames adopted last year are respected, the annual report presented by the security committee that oversees the Security Service should be presented soon after parliament reconvenes after the summer recess.

Although the law establishing the Security Service states that an annual report must be drawn up it was only last year that the first of such reports was made public, at a time when the secret service was the subject of great media intrigue.

Unlike Britain’s secret service, which is accountable to a parliamentary committee, in Malta the Security Service is accountable to the Security Committee composed of the Prime Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, contacted this week by MaltaToday for his reaction after the official appointment as Head of the Security Service, Herbert Agius did not want to comment. "It is not normal for us to talk to the media. I would like to keep out of the limelight for the good of the service," he told this newspaper.

Herbert Agius was appointed Acting Head of the Service on 14 October 2001 soon after George Grech’s resignation from Police Commissioner and Head of the Security Service. After Mr Grech’s resignation government decided to separate the roles of Police Commissioner and Head of the Security Service.

Mr Agius, a former customs official has consistently maintained a low profile. He was active in the National Drugs Intelligence Unit, which was incorporated within the Security Service in 2000.

Mr Agius had been active in the Security Service prior to his appointment as Acting Head last year.