I was accused of theft at work but never formally charged. What now?

When a report is made to the police, it typically triggers an investigation, and the time this takes can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case, the evidence available, and current caseloads, with some investigations under the Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta, resulting in the matter being shelved due to insufficient evidence without the accused person ever being formally notified that it has been closed, which can leave people in exactly the uncertain position you describe. You are generally entitled to make enquiries about the status of an investigation involving you, and a lawyer can often obtain clearer information than an individual asking directly, including whether the file remains open or has effectively been closed without charges being brought. If no charges have been brought and a reasonable amount of time has passed, it may also be worth having a lawyer formally follow up on the file's status, partly for your own peace of mind and partly because prolonged uncertainty like this can be relevant if you later need to address the reputational and employment consequences you've described, potentially including a separate employment law claim regarding your dismissal.