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3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 OCTOBER 2025 NEWS Auditor General opens investigation into fake ID and residence permit scandal THE National Audit Office (NAO) has formally launched an investigation into allega- tions of widespread fraud and mismanagement in the issuing of identity cards and residence permits to foreign nationals. The decision was confirmed earlier today by Auditor Gen- eral Charles Deguara in a letter addressed to Darren Carabott, Chairperson of the Parliamen- tary Public Accounts Commit- tee (PAC). The investigation comes in response to a request made by Opposition Members of the Committee last August. The probe will focus on the operations of Identita, Job- splus, and the Home Affairs Ministry, amid serious claims that fraudulent documents have been used to obtain Mal- tese public services and bene- fits. In a statement, the National Audit Office said that its inves- tigation will examine whether government entities acted in accordance with the princi- ples of good governance and due diligence when processing applications for residence and work permits. Among the key terms of ref- erence, the inquiry will assess whether agencies and minis- tries handled applications fair- ly and transparently, whether information was concealed or misrepresented, and whether public resources were misused as a result of administrative failures. The NAO will also look into whether studies were conduct- ed to determine the national benefits of issuing such per- mits. The investigation was re- quested by the three Oppo- sition members on the PAC (Darren Carabott, Graham Bencini, and Claudette Butt- igieg) following mounting reports from residents who received mail addressed to un- known individuals allegedly registered at their properties. The allegations suggest that some foreign nationals may have obtained Maltese identifi- cation documents fraudulently, enabling them to access public services such as hospital ap- pointments and social benefits. "The Nationalist Party wel- comes the Auditor General's decision and looks forward to the full truth emerging from this investigation," the Oppo- sition said in a statement, de- scribing the scandal as a matter of national integrity. This controversy has been unfolding for several years, with earlier reports indicating that thousands of false identi- ty cards may have been issued to foreign nationals, sparking public concern over system- ic failures in Malta's identity management system. NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt Identita, which issues identity cards and residence permits, will come under scrutiny during this investigation (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)