Sex, Drugs And Fake IDs: A Deep Dive Into Jason Azzopardi’s Allegations Of €60 Million Identity Malta Racket
Lawyer and former MP Jason Azzopardi has filed a court application requesting a magisterial inquiry into an alleged €60 million identity fraud racket involving Identity Malta. In a court application filed two days ago, Azzopardi claims under oath that thousands of fraudulent identity cards have been issued to third-country nationals, potentially undermining Malta’s immigration system and the integrity of European Union residency rights. The allegations paint a picture of an operation involving illicit financial transactions, high-level political involvement, and a series of clandestine activities designed to exploit Malta’s position within the EU.
The racket is alleged to have started operating in 2015, with approximately 18,000 false Maltese identity cards issued to individuals primarily from Egypt and Libya. Each document was allegedly sold for prices ranging from €2,000 to €8,000, generating an estimated €60 million for those involved.
How did the alleged fraud work?
The core of the alleged operation involved falsified marriage certificates and forged business documents.
The marriage certificates were designed to show fake marital ties between third-country nationals and EU citizens, particularly from the UK, allowing individuals to claim residency in Malta under the guise of family reunification. Additionally, forged business certificates from the Malta Business Registry were used to justify issuing identity cards, facilitating access to residency for numerous nationals from outside the EU.
In a right of reply, the Malta Business Registry (MBR) noted that it has robust checks and balances in place to prevent the issuance of forged documents and that to date, it is not aware of any instances where forged documents have been issued by the MBR.
Such documents would enable individuals to bypass standard immigration procedures, obtaining residency rights far quicker than legitimate applicants. The operation reportedly issued identity cards with fictitious addresses and employment records. About 300 companies are believed to be implicated in the scheme, serving as fronts for employment records that had no real basis. Applicants were registered to addresses they had never lived at, and many were listed with jobs they never performed.
Side door pickups after hours
According to the allegations, the identity cards were collected discreetly.
After hours, applicants were reportedly directed to a side door at Identity Malta offices, where employees would hand over the fraudulent ID cards. This clandestine pickup method was allegedly facilitated by insiders, ensuring the cards were distributed without attracting attention during regular office hours.
The application is in part based on statements from two Egyptian nationals, Moustafa Ata Darwish and Ibrahim Samir Mohamed Abdelaziz, who provided critical information to the police after their arrests.
“I used to do tiling work, and [one time] we went to work for someone,” one of the suspects is quoted saying in the document. “I’m talking to you from prison. This person offered to make me an ID card. He told me I can make you an ID card. [You need to] pay me €5,000. Then I went, they took my photos, and after about 15 days I received the ID card.” Another said he had received an ID card that claimed he was married to an English woman he had never met.
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Drug-fuelled sex parties
Beyond the fraudulent documentation, the allegations reveal a deeper, more complex layer involving high-profile parties allegedly organised by a Colombian woman named Rosario. Azzopardi’s filing claims Rosario played a significant role in the operation, leveraging her influence within elite circles in Malta to further the scheme.
According to the allegations, Rosario organised lavish parties attended by influential figures. These gatherings were held at venues such as a villa in Wardija, apartments in Mellieħa, and a flat at 54 Forrest Street in St. Julian’s. They reportedly featured an abundance of cocaine, South American prostitutes, and an atmosphere that facilitated both social networking and illicit activities.
Rosario is accused of using these parties to secure work permits for Colombian prostitutes, allegedly by exploiting corrupt connections within Identity Malta and the government. Azzopardi’s application suggests that officials were allegedly compensated for their cooperation with invitations to these exclusive gatherings. Attendees reportedly included power players from across Malta’s political spectrum, as well as government ministers, doctors, lawyers, and civil servants.
The application further alleges that these parties were not just for entertainment but served as mechanisms to foster cooperation and complicity among the attendees. Rosario reportedly used these events to maintain influence and ensure the continuation of the identity fraud scheme, indicating a network of support that facilitated the illegal activities.
Key figures implicated in the allegations
The court application names several key individuals allegedly involved in the operation.
Maria Spiteri, a public employee at Identity Malta, is accused of manipulating electronic systems to fabricate entries and expedite applications without proper documentation. Her lifestyle, reportedly marked by luxury items such as a Range Rover, raises questions about potential financial benefits from her alleged involvement in the scheme.
Bernard Attard, described as a central figure, allegedly facilitated connections between third-country nationals and corrupt officials, ensuring the smooth operation of the racket.
The application states that he is the first cousin of Adrian and Robert Agius, the two brothers known as tal-Maksar, who stand accused of complicity in the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
What do you make of these allegations?
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