A disgraced Maltese notary is facing a series of civil lawsuits and ongoing criminal proceedings after allegedly misappropriating tens of thousands of euros in client property deposits. Thomas Vella has been named as a defendant in at least nine civil cases filed by former clients seeking to recover funds entrusted to him for home purchases. He is also facing criminal prosecution linked to the alleged misuse of client money.
Court filings show that several plaintiffs claim they handed over property deposits to Vella as part of promise-of-sale agreements that were never properly registered. One victim, speaking according to Times of Malta, said he paid Vella a €14,500 deposit in 2019 but later discovered that the agreement had not been registered with the Inland Revenue Department and that stamp duty had not been paid. The client remains out of pocket.
Vella was charged with misappropriation in 2019, the same year he was stripped of his notarial warrant by the Notarial Council. An asset freeze was also imposed in connection with the criminal case, which is still pending.
A Facebook group set up by alleged victims, titled Victims of Notary Tommy Vella – Updates, says it was created to collate information “so that they may be in a better position to be aware of latest developments” and invites individuals to share information confidentially. Posts on the page accuse Vella of spending client funds on travel and leisure, referencing social media photos of trips, hotels and events. These allegations have not been tested in court.
Regulatory breaches were also flagged by authorities. A 2018 review by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) found that Vella failed to retain basic client documentation, including deeds of sale. Court records show the FIAU is seeking payment of a €60,500 fine imposed for what it described as “systemic and serious” failures to carry out anti-money laundering checks. The unit said Vella had shown a “complete disinterest” in improving his compliance systems.
Separately, state media previously reported that Vella had been ordered to refund more than €20,000 to a French client after funds entrusted to him for property tax payments were not passed on to the Commissioner for Tax. Public records of that judgment, and other cases reported as ongoing in 2022, are not readily available on the courts’ online database.
In an unrelated matter, Vella’s name also appeared in a 2023 court judgment that annulled the concession agreement granting three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare on grounds of fraud. He had published the original 2016 contract in his capacity as notary. The ruling, delivered by Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale, referenced Vella multiple times while examining the wider contractual framework. The concession covering St Luke’s Hospital, Karin Grech Hospital and Gozo General Hospital was ultimately declared null.
A spokesperson for the Notarial Council said misconduct cases were rare within the profession. “Individuals who have strayed away from the correct path are found in every profession and sphere of business and are rare exceptions. With pride, we say that, bar a very minimal number of former members of the Maltese notarial college, all the hundreds of other members past and present exercise and satisfied their professional requirements flawlessly,” the spokesperson said.
Vella, who is the son of the late Judge Patrick Vella, did not respond to a request for comment sent through his lawyer. He is currently employed as a waiter.
Drink-Driving Case
Vella was also involved in a separate traffic incident in April 2019 in which Irish tourist David Cooley was seriously injured after being struck by a car shortly after arriving in Malta. According to Times of Malta, Vella was driving the vehicle involved in the collision.
Cooley suffered multiple fractures and a severe brain injury. This month, an Irish court awarded him €3.1 million in compensation after he filed a case against Vella’s insurers, Mapfre Middlesea.
Cooley’s lawyer, Dan Wall, criticised the handling of the case by Maltese authorities, stating there had been no contact with his client after he was flown back to Ireland by air ambulance. Wall said the case raised questions about Malta’s civil and criminal justice systems within the context of its EU membership.
A police spokesperson told Times of Malta that charges had been issued against Vella and that court procedures were concluded. However, the case resulted in a conditional discharge after key prosecution charges were dismissed, and legal sources said authorities did not appeal the ruling.
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