Former Labour MP Silvio Grixti was questioned by police over his part in the disability benefits scandal that rocked the islands last month.

The questioning took place yesterday afternoon while the former MP was confronted with evidence, according to the Times of Malta. 

Grixti was said to be at the centre of a fraudulent scheme that gave monthly Severe Disability benefits to people who were not entitled to them, allegedly as political favours. This defrauded the government of millions of euros.

Grixti allegedly provided false medical documents to help people receive the monetary benefits which amounted to €450 per month, granting them eligibility within minutes while others endured months of application procedures. 

This is the second time Grixti has been interrogated by authorities, the first time was in 2021, preceding his resignation.

Just last May, Social Justice Minister Michael Falzon published data showing that 10,897 people had been caught receiving similar social benefits such as childcare, disability, and unemployment aid over the last decade – benefits they were not entitled to. The total of savings and overpayments since 2012, in fact, comes up to some €43.8 million.

Following the revelations, Prime Minister Robert Abela told Times of Malta that no sitting Member of Parliament (MP) was involved in the fraud racket – seemingly implying that former MPs were.

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