Presidential pardon offered to those who received social benefits illegally

A Presidential Pardon is being offered to those who received social benefits illegally as part of a racket fronted by, amongst others, former Labour Party MP Silvio Grixti, the government announced on Thursday.

The government said that the Presidential Pardon will only be for those people who pay back everything that they illegally received in the severe disability racket, and amongst other things, that they testify against those who ran the scheme.

There will be no pardon for those who were the instigators or promoters of the scheme, the government said.

The government reiterated that when the racket came to the attention of the Office of the Prime Minister, it was immediately reported to the police so that the necessary investigations may begin, investigations which resulted in court proceedings being instigated.

The government continued that the Social Policy Ministry had appointed a board to evaluate the process of severe disability assistance applications, and presented its recommendations on 14 March 2024, and also noted that the court declared that there was enough evidence to indict 5 people – including Grixti – in connection with the racket last Tuesday.

The Cabinet recommended to the President that because of the particular circumstances under which a number of social benefits payments, including to those not entitled to them “a solution outside of the criminal justice system for this situation should be found by giving a pardon when it comes to punishments against people who received the benefits.”

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