Zammit transferred to economic crimes unit ‘under political pressure’

The former police inspector, Daniel Zammit – son of former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit – had been reinstated in the police force’s economic crimes unit on order of the home affairs ministry, MaltaToday can confirm.

Two well-placed sources confirmed with this newspaper that Zammit had been removed from the Criminal Investigations Department as police inspector and stationed at the Valletta police station. But in 2013, upon the election of the Labour government, Zammit was brought into the economic crimes unit on the insistence of the home affairs ministry.

“He showed promise and was promoted to the CID… but he later proved to be lackadaisical in his job,” one source privy to Zammit’s career in the police force, said.

“He started frequenting certain establishments in Paceville, and was instructed not to specifically frequent gentlemen’s clubs, which at the time were a sort of grey area for the police force in terms of regulation,” the source said.

Zammit was later transferred to the Valletta police station. “It was a way of placing him away from what could be a source of compromise for him,” the source said.

It had also been apparent at the time in 2010, that Zammit had gone into business with Luke Chetcuti, the son of Paceville impresario Hugo Chetcuti, with a 33.3% shareholding in Diabolik Entertainment Ltd – in violation of the Public Service Management Code and the Police Act which require the express permission of the permanent secretary for police officers to set up businesses.

Another source told MaltaToday that Zammit returned to police investigations, this time within the economic crimes unit soon after the Labour election victory. At the time the police were in the portfolio of responsibilities of former minister Manuel Mallia.

“It was under political pressure from the home affairs ministry,” the second source said, adding that remote gaming investigations fell under his purview as part of his role.

In comments to MaltaToday, home affairs minister Carmelo Abela said he will be awaiting the outcome of the ongoing inquiry headed by Judge Michael Mallia and the Internal investigation by the Malta Police Force before giving a reaction.

After being boarded out of the force in May 2015, only two weeks later Zammit incorporated consultancy firm Tyche Consultancy Limited, at a Swieqi address. 

Daniel Zammit’s name rose to prominence when the police inspector was medically ‘boarded out’ of the police corps within four days of making his request, and then was drafted into a €60,000 position within Enemalta’s internal audit division. The position was immediately revoked by energy minister Konrad Mizzi when he learned of the manner in which the employment occurred.

Zammit’s role in the police force has however raised questions about his actions as co-prosecutor in the murder charges against the former son-in-law of Joseph Gaffarena in December 2008, and the subsequent business relationships subsisting between the Gaffarenas and the Zammit family.

Last week, MaltaToday revealed that Zammit was sold a parcel of land in Bahrija in 2009 by a third party, land that was originally sold by the Gaffarenas’ company Alfaclass. The land was part of an agricultural holding owned by the Gaffarenas in Bahrija.

The Zammits remained in business with the Gaffarenas, with their shares in Geras Healthcare Limited held in the name of Jane Zammit, the mother of Daniel Zammit.

The proximity of the two families has rightfully raised questions as to why the prosecution of Stephen Caruana, the former husband of Romina Gaffarena who stands accused of the murder of Neville Baldacchino, is still at the compilation of evidence stage.

Additionally, MaltaToday last week revealed that Tyche Consultancy was registered at an address where Luigi Fabio Padovani, the son of a convicted Mafia associate, had also been registered.

Padovani’s identity card number was registered at the Swieqi address at Compass Point buildings, where Zammit’s Tyche Consultancy is registered.

Padovani’s father Antonio was dubbed the ‘slot machine king’ after he used his gambling businesses to clinch state concessions, and forge business relationships on behalf of the Sicilian mafia with Renato Grasso, a Camorra associate.

According to Reggio Calabria investigators, who last week issued arrest warrants for 41 men and women – six of whom were arrested in Malta – the Grasso-Padovani duo had also extended their alliance with ‘Ndrangheta associates, namely Mario Gennaro.

Gennaro was arrested in Malta on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant last week together with other associates, and is awaiting extradition to Italy.

There is no suggestion of any link with organised criminality by either Roderick or Daniel Zammit.