Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/570058
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 News 7 tion key created to resettle some 120,000 among 28 member states. Malta has one of the smallest quo- tas at 133. But the UNHCR says a very pre- liminary estimate would indicate a potential need to increase reloca- tion opportunities to as many as 200,000 places. "This can only work if it goes hand in hand with ad- equate reception capacities, espe- cially in Greece. Solidarity cannot be the responsibility of only a few EU member states." Source: UNHCR data.unhcr.org Police widen investigation over visa scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 While the figures differ sig- nificantly from one year to the next, the rate of ap- proval also changed: in 2011, 4,923 (79% of the total) requests were acceded to; in 2012, 14,626 (92%) vi- sas were issued; in 2013, a record 37,486 (84%) visas were issued, and in 2014 a total of 16,333 (72%) visas were issued. So far in 2015, 1,592 visas – 99% of total requests – have been issued. MaltaToday understands that although issued by the Maltese embassy in Tripoli, not all visa recipi- ents could necessarily be Libyan – they could be also nationals from other countries seeking a hassle-free entry into the borderless, European Schengen area. MaltaToday has in the past reported how the Tripoli embassy would issue up to 300 visas to Malta each day, leading to investigations – so far unsuc- cessful – into whether Malta's consul in Tripoli, Marisa Farrugia, was aware of any irregularities. Farrugia had been recalled back to Malta for urgent police questioning over documented evidence of ex- tensive fraud at the Maltese embassy. At the time, a number of Mal- tese companies had claimed that their business letterheads were being falsified for recommenda- tions and the official invitations used for the issuing of a visa for Libyan businessmen. The information also reveals that four individuals were listed as recommenders a total of 10,394 times, making them the four most 'popular' main recommenders. The four are GRTU council member Mario Debono, audi- tor Joe Sammut, a certain Joanna Debono, and D Holdings, a com- pany owned by Iuris Fiduciary Ltd. D Holdings was listed as a recommender 1,245 times between 2012 and 2014; 983 visas were issued. Joanna Debono appeared as a main recommender on 2,204 visa requests between 2011 and 2015, of which 1,826 visas were issued. On the other hand, Debono and Sammut appeared as main recommenders 3,531 and 3,414 times re- spectively of which 3,055 and 2,512 visas were is- sued. However, contacted by MaltaToday, Mario Debo- no explained that he was suspicious about the data concerning him. "I don't recall ever recommending over 2,000 visa applications in 2013. I am aware that my company letterheads were falsified by Libyan nationals, and that is something that I could not stop." Debono said he had been questioned by police over his visa requests, and that he explained to them that his company letterheads had been falsified. "We do a lot of business in Libya and this kind of thing is bound to happen." Total visas issued from Libya (2011-2015) Visas requested Visas issued % 2011 6,261 4,923 79% 2012 15,964 14,624 92% 2013 44,789 37,486 84% 2014 22,713 16,333 72% 2015 1,604 1,592 99% Main recommenders Visas requested Visas issued % Mario Debono 3,531 3,055 87% Joe Sammut 3,414 2,512 74% Joanna Debono 2,204 1,826 83% D Holdings 1,245 983 79%