Marsaxlokk in Shock: Ex-Fisheries Chief Grima Faces Major Corruption Charges Over Missing EU Funds

**Ex-fisheries head set to face money-laundering and corruption charges**

In a case that has rocked Malta’s tight-knit fishing community, former Director-General of Fisheries Anthony Grima is expected to be formally charged this week with money laundering, corruption, and abuse of office following a two-year magisterial inquiry. The charges, which sources say involve millions in EU and state funds meant for local fishermen, have sent shockwaves through Marsaxlokk harbour, where generations have made their living from the sea.

Grima, 58, who headed the Fisheries Department for nearly a decade until his abrupt resignation in 2021, was a familiar face at the Sunday fish market and a regular at the village’s renowned seafood restaurants. Known for his hearty laugh and penchant for discussing fish stocks over pastizzi, the Rabat native had cultivated an image as a champion of traditional Maltese fishing practices. Now, investigators allege he systematically diverted funds intended for fleet modernisation and sustainable fishing initiatives into a complex web of shell companies and offshore accounts.

“This feels like a betrayal of our entire way of life,” says Carmel Spiteri, 67, whose family has fished Maltese waters for five generations. Sitting in his colourful luzzu at Marsaxlokk harbour, its iconic eyes of Osiris watching protectively, Spiteri gestures angrily at the pristine boats around him. “While we struggled with rising fuel costs and EU regulations, someone was allegedly lining their pockets with money meant to keep our traditions alive.”

The case strikes at the heart of Malta’s complex relationship with the sea. Fishing here transcends mere economics – it’s woven into the national identity, from the Phoenician times to today’s festa celebrations where villages proudly parade their patron saints through streets scented with lampuki and aljotta. The alleged fraud represents not just missing funds, but what many see as an assault on Maltese heritage itself.

Court documents seen by Hot Malta reveal investigators traced suspicious transactions totalling €3.2 million through companies registered in Malta, Cyprus, and the British Virgin Islands. The inquiry, led by Magistrate Gabriella Vella, reportedly uncovered evidence that Grima approved fraudulent grant applications in exchange for kickbacks, with some funds allegedly used to purchase luxury properties in Sliema and a yacht berthed at the prestigious Portomaso marina.

The timing proves particularly painful for Malta’s fishing industry, already reeling from Brexit-related quota changes and rising operational costs. “We’ve lost fifteen traditional fishermen just this year,” explains Maria Camilleri, who runs the family fishmonger in Valletta’s historic market. “Young people see their fathers struggling and think, why bother? Now they discover the people supposed to help us were allegedly helping themselves.”

The scandal has also exposed uncomfortable questions about oversight of EU maritime funds. Between 2014-2020, Malta received approximately €38 million through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, intended to support sustainable fishing and coastal communities. While the EU Commission’s anti-fraud office OLAF has praised Maltese authorities for their cooperation, critics argue systemic failures allowed the alleged scheme to flourish unchecked.

Social media has erupted with calls for justice, with the hashtag #ħasilatajmoney (money laundering) trending locally. The渔民 (fishermen’s) cooperative has organised a silent protest flotilla for this Sunday, with boats planned to circle Valletta’s Grand Harbour flying black flags. “We’re not just angry about the money,” says cooperative president Franco Vella. “This is about protecting our children’s future and the soul of Malta itself.”

As Grima prepares to face justice, the case serves as a stark reminder that in our small island nation, corruption’s ripples spread far beyond balance sheets. They touch every family who has ever cast a net, shared a fish dinner, or watched the sunset paint Marsaxlokk’s harbour gold. For Malta’s fishing community, healing will require not just legal accountability, but a fundamental rebuilding of trust in the institutions meant to safeguard their ancient maritime heritage.

The charges, when formally presented, will mark merely the beginning of what promises to be a painful reckoning for a country grappling with the cost of corruption on its most treasured traditions.