13 Police Officers Charged In Overtime Fraud Case Return To Active Duty

Thirteen police officers facing criminal charges over Malta’s infamous traffic section overtime racket have returned to active duty within the police force.

The officers were reportedly brought back in April and assigned to a newly established police unit in Paceville, despite still facing court proceedings related to allegations that they received payment for overtime work they never carried out.

A police spokesperson confirmed to Times of Malta that the group includes one inspector, one sergeant major, three sergeants and eight constables. Most have been assigned to the Paceville Neighbourhood Team, while the inspector has been deployed with district police.

The development follows reports that former police sergeant Norman Xuereb, described by a court as the “brains” behind the scheme, had also been brought back into the force earlier this year. Xuereb was later suspended again after being handed a five-year prison sentence.

According to court findings, Xuereb personally pocketed around €53,000 through the fraudulent overtime scheme.

The scandal dates back to 2019, when a whistleblower exposed an alleged system in which traffic officers claimed overtime payments for traffic management duties that investigators later found had not been performed.

The investigation led to the arrest and arraignment of numerous members of the Traffic Section, with several cases still ongoing before the courts.

Police said the officers’ precautionary suspensions had already been lifted by the Public Service Commission in 2024 and that their reassignment was carried out in line with established procedures.

However, the decision has sparked criticism among some officers, with questions raised over why individuals facing serious criminal charges have been allowed to return to active duties while other suspended officers remain sidelined.

Should police officers facing criminal charges be allowed back on duty?

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Dylan Attard

Dylan Attard is a Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta and a proud Gozitan with a passion for digital media, content creation, and social trends. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him at the gym, watching series and keeping up with everything happening online.