PD presents private members motion to establish international body focused on combating organised crime

Partit Demokratiku yesterday filed a private members motion to establish an internationally-led body focused on combating organised crime in the Central Mediterranean, expressing concern that “Malta could become an international crossroad of illegal trafficking”.

The party stated: “Malta’s reputation is being tarnished by reports of smuggling, through Maltese waters, of human beings, fuel, tuna, tobacco and narcotics, over and above the negative press received through money laundering, the sale of passports and Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder.”

Yesterday morning PD tabled a Private Members Motion in Parliament titled ‘Inroddu ġieħ lil Malta’ to establish an international focused on combating organised crime in the Central Mediterranean, to prevent illicit trade spilling into Malta.

“The motion proposes the establishment of an international body modelled on the United Nations on the International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity, which has been tried and tested, to cover international waters, which is currently ungoverned. Through this innovative approach, the Commission will deal with suspected crimes related to the illicit traffic of human beings and goods in the Central Mediterranean, and given broad remit to direct resources towards the investigation and prosecution of organised crime. Malta could potentially offer its courts for the adjudication of cases, necessitating amendments to criminal law,” PD said.

“This is the second Private Member’s Bill that PD is proposing on good governance and elimination of crime in a space of four months. The first motion concerned the setup of a Parliamentary Committee to scrutinize MFSA, e-Gaming and FIAU, thus creating a different tier of checks and balances.”