Updated | PN welcomes court ruling on Ombudsman investigation on army promotions

The PN has welcomed a recent decision by the Court of Appeal that the Ombudsman has a right to investigate complaints about injustices within the Armed Forces of Malta, particularly the way in which promotions are given.

The case goes back to 2013, when then home affairs minister Manuel Mallia had gone to court to try and stop the Ombudsman investigating promotions within the armed forces under the new Labour government. These notably included the AFM’s commander Jeffrey Curmi, who jumped four ranks – from major to brigadier – within a few months.

“The PN condemns the government for doing everything in its power to block the Ombudsman from investigating these injustices,” shadow home affairs minister Beppe Fenech Adami said in a statement.

“This has resulted in the Ombudsman having to resort to the courts to protect the rights and obligations of his office to investigation these injustices. Yesterday’s decision is another condemnation of [Prime Minister Joseph] Muscat’s government, which has once again been found guilty of trying to silence the Ombudsman.”

He said that Joseph Muscat’s government started giving out promotions to those close to the government right after the 2013 general election, at the expense of others who had a right to advance their career in the army.

Fenech Adami reiterated the PN’s stance, that when in government, it will seek to do justice with those who have suffered injustices. 

Home affairs minister Carmelo Abela said that the government will respect the court’s decision, arguing that it is “normal in a democracy for there to exist different interpretations of the law that are ultimately decided by a court”.

“It’s a shame that the PN has tried to turn the court’s decision into a political ball,” he said.

Abela proceeded to lash out at army promotions that took place under the previous PN administration, arguing that some people had been promoted without a prior call, and that some officers had even been promoted to high-ranking positions that had been created specifically for them.