Can I be charged in Malta for something that allegedly happened years ago?

Maltese criminal law does include prescription periods, essentially time limits, after which criminal proceedings generally cannot be instituted for many offences, and these periods vary depending on the seriousness and specific category of the offence under the Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta, with more serious offences generally carrying longer prescription periods, and certain very serious offences, such as some categories of serious violent or sexual offences, in some cases not being subject to standard prescription limits at all. Whether the specific allegation against you actually falls within or outside the applicable prescription period depends entirely on exactly what offence is being alleged and precisely when the events are said to have occurred, both of which need to be properly established before this question can be answered with any confidence in your specific situation. Given that you are facing a serious allegation regardless of its age, it is important to take it seriously and seek legal advice promptly, both to properly assess the prescription question in your specific case and, more broadly, to ensure you are properly advised and represented if the matter proceeds further.