Former Malta Ministers to Face Prosecution Over Links to Casino Boss in Journalist Murder Case
Two former Maltese officials face prosecution over their connections to 17 Black, a company owned by casino magnate Yorgen Fenech, who stands accused of orchestrating journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.
Three men in suits, close-up
Magistrate Charmaine Galea has recommended charging Keith Schembri, former chief aide to the prime minister, and Konrad Mizzi, former energy minister, following an extensive investigation into their dealings with 17 Black.
The case connects to Caruana Galizia's 2017 murder, when she was investigating the Panama Papers, which revealed that 17 Black planned to pay $2 million to offshore companies owned by Schembri and Mizzi.
Fenech, who owned the Qawra Oracle Casino and Portomaso Casino through his Tumas Group, was arrested in 2019 while attempting to flee Malta by yacht. His arrest followed the capture of Melvin Theuma, the alleged middleman who implicated Fenech as the mastermind behind the journalist's assassination.
Prosecutors believe Fenech ordered the murder to prevent Caruana Galizia from exposing corruption in a $500 million government contract awarded to his company, Electrogas. She had obtained 600,000 leaked emails from Electrogas before her death.
While Fenech denies orchestrating the murder and claims Schembri was responsible, both Schembri and Mizzi already face separate charges for bribery, criminal association, and money laundering related to government health contracts.
The scandal triggered mass protests in Malta, leading to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's resignation in 2019. Fenech currently awaits trial for his alleged role in the murder.
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