Former Police Superintendent Sues Government, Citing ‘Two Weights, Two Measures’ Over Ministerial Ethics Scandal
Former police superintendent Maurice Curmi, dismissed over alleged ethical breaches, has launched legal proceedings against the government, arguing that he has been unfairly discriminated against compared to two high-ranking government ministers accused of similar misconduct.
Curmi claims that while he faced harsh penalties, ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri were “completely absolved” by Prime Minister Robert Abela, despite findings that they had violated ethics.
Curmi has filed a judicial protest in which he accuses the Maltese government and law enforcement of acting with “two weights, two measures”, the Times of Malta reported.
Curmi’s accusations follow the findings of parliament’s standards commissioner, Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Azzopardi, who concluded that both Bartolo and Camilleri abused their authority by securing a highly paid government role for Bartolo’s wife, Amanda Muscat. Muscat was appointed as a €68,000-a-year consultant within Camilleri’s ministry, despite lacking qualifications for the position and carrying out only secretarial duties for Bartolo.
Curmi’s judicial protest against the Prime Minister, Police Commissioner, and State Advocate argues that Muscat’s appointment constituted a “phantom job” masking what he calls a “criminal conspiracy involving misappropriation and fraud”—all allegedly carried out “under the blessings of the Prime Minister.” According to Curmi, Abela’s acceptance of Bartolo’s brief apology, which he deemed “sufficient,” shows a troubling discrepancy in how disciplinary actions are enforced, especially when compared to Curmi’s own case.
Curmi, who joined the police force in 1991 and served for over three decades, was dismissed following accusations of ethical misconduct it was reported that he had tested positive for cocaine. Curmi denies any criminal wrongdoing and alleges that he was targeted for discipline more swiftly and severely than the ministers involved in Muscat’s employment scandal. According to his filing, details of his alleged offence were leaked to the media even before he was formally suspended on 18th October, 2023. Following disciplinary hearings, his dismissal was confirmed in June 2024, a decision signed off by the Prime Minister himself.
In light of Abela’s response to the Standards Commissioner’s findings on Bartolo and Camilleri, Curmi has now escalated his legal actions, claiming that his treatment constitutes unlawful discrimination under the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits discrimination by public authorities. The contrast in outcomes, he contends, is stark: while Bartolo and Camilleri retained their positions following a public apology, Curmi lost his job and his 25-year pension despite what he described as an “impeccable” record of service.
Curmi’s legal filing underscores his grievance with the Prime Minister’s selective enforcement of ethical standards. By failing to demand any disciplinary action, the filing claims, Abela forgave a “flagrant breach of ethics” that was confirmed by an independent inquiry.
The former superintendent’s complaint also takes aim at the lack of an independent adjudicator in his own case. Curmi now seeks reversal of the decision that cost him his career, his pension, and his reputation. Whether his protest will prompt any action from the government remains to be seen, but the case draws new scrutiny on an administration facing mounting calls for accountability and fairness in its handling of public officials.
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