Carmelo Fino disappearance: Suspended nurse asks to be reinstated

A St Vincent de Paul Residence nurse suspected of involvement in the disappearance of resident Carmelo Fino last June has requested immediate reinstatement after six months elapsed since he was suspended without charge, Times of Malta has learnt.

Rhys Xuereb has written to the Public Service Commission with the request.

He is one of seven workers who were suspended on half pay upon the instructions of the PSC following Fino’s disappearance. The others are four security officers and two carers.

They were suspended after an inquiry concluded they had failed to follow procedures resulting in the disappearance of an elderly resident. All suspended workers are Maltese nationals.

Xuereb had demanded a fresh inquiry into the case since the first inquiry was concluded without even taking his version of events.

His lawyer, Chris Cilia, explained in the letter that, according to the standard public service rulebook, when an officer is suspended for precautionary purposes and criminal charges have still not been issued against them six months after the date of suspension, they may ask the commission to consider lifting the suspension.

The commission shall then ask the head of department...