Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1066826
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 DECEMBER 2018 FOR most of the year, 17 Black and its mysterious ownership was part of a complicated sto- ryline that had been first bro- ken by the last Daphne Carua- na Galizia, but seemingly kept out of the news cycle. Until, news of what the com- pany was being used for was finally revealed by a consor- tium of newspapers and jour- nalists working on the Daphne Project, which took up Caru- ana Galizia's work and dug deeper than ever before. Un- til then, 17 Black was a cryp- tic post on Caruana Galiza's Running Commentary blog, named first inside the Finan- cial Intelligence Analysis Unit and leaked to the journalist. In early 2018, it was revealed that it was a Dubai company, with ties to an Azeri national and other offshore companies – including the Panama com- panies set up by former ener- gy minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM's chief of staff Keith Schembri. The connection finally made sense. The offshore companies set up by the Prime Minister's un- official second-in-command, and his energy minister – a star candidate who was driv- ing Labour's key policy plank in 2013 – were connected to another offshore company owned by an Azeri national. 17 Black was somewhere in the middle, a Dubai company that seemed to be channel- ling transactions from one offshore company to the next. That Malta's gas plant was be- ing procured by fuel from one its owner's key shareholders, Azeri state national energy company SOCAR, made the 17 Black set-up all the more suspicious. But all came to a head with yet another key revelation: the alleged owner of 17 Black, nobody but Electrogas share- holder Yorgen Fenech, of the Tumas business group. Now the link had become even stronger: the Panama compa- nies, revealed in 2016 by the ICIJ and becoming the be-all- and-end-all of the National- ist Party's political campaign from April 2016 right up to the 2017 election, were actu- ally connected to Labour's key policy plank itself: the gas plant. Irrespective of whether funds were transferred from 17 Black to the Panama com- panies (and funds transferred could not in fact be traced by Reuters), the connection was enough light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi were certainly not above sus- picion, with their offshore companies now linked to the mysterious 17 Black. All the key players have denied wrongdoing - Kon- rad Mizzi insisted that his Panama company and New Zealand trust were set up for family purposes; but Keith Schembri did admit that 17 Black was listed as a target cli- ent for his Panama company but again denied knowledge of the company's ownership and involvement in the power station deal. All the main names have admitted to the set-ups in place and yet, both Mizzi and Schembri retain their offices as the Prime Minister insist- ed on what had manifestly worked so well for him - wait for the investigations to ei- ther exonerate or convict the persons involved. Although Joseph Muscat had already stated that Keith Schembri would resign if subject to a criminal investigation, Mus- cat, now tottering on legalism, has insisted that Schembri is not under investigation by the police, but that the police are independently investigating the alleged ownership of 17 Black. The only inquiry on the Pan- ama Papers related to the 17 Black allegations is not the re- sult of an investigation carried out by the police force but is the result of a report filed by former Opposition leader Si- mon Busuttil after the 2017 general election. Schembri is facing two sepa- rate money-laundering in- quiries unrelated to 17 Black, which pre-date the election. In July 2017 Magistrate Ian Farrugia decided there are enough grounds for a mag- isterial inquiry to determine whether money laundering allegations against tourism minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri war- rant a criminal investigation. And in May 2018 Magistrate Franco Depasquale concluded that it made no sense to open a separate investigation on the $1.6 million transfer alle- gation to the "target clients" in Panama belonging to Mizzi and Schembri but ordered that this information should be investigated in the inquiry presided by Magistrate Ian Farrugia. Magistrate Ian Farrugia's decision to launch an inquiry into whether chief of staff Keith Schembri and minis- ter Konrad Mizzi breached money-laundering laws can only start after the conclusion of seven appeals, one of which was presented by the Prime Minister. Other appeals were presented by Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri, Brian Tonna, Karl Cini, Malcolm Scerri and Adrian Hillman. This means that if the PM wins his appeal, even on pro- cedural or technical grounds, Mizzi and Schembri won't ev- NEWS hristmas specials • he story of the year COURT NOTICE The Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals notifies that the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the sale by Judicial Auction of the following property to be held in the corridors of the Courts of Justice, Republic Street, Valletta Date Time Judicial Sale No Property 10 th January 2019 11.00am 26/18 - EM Emanuel Busuttil (ID21355M) vs Aaron Schembri (ID101584M) Property numbered 102 named Whistle, in Saint Mary Street, Tarxien, including its air space estimated at €150,000. 10 th January 2019 12.00pm 28/18 - JGL APS Bank Ltd (C2192) vs Eric Borg (ID533674M) et Apartment internally marked with letter "A" numbered "1" (A1), which apartment forms part of a Block of Apartments known as "Blokk A", including a basement garage, internally numbered 27, forming part of a bigger complex of garages. The apartment and the garage form part of a complex of 40 apartments and garages without number and named "The Gables", formerly known as Xemxija Hill Apartments, with façade on two roads, one at the lower level named Triq Raddet ir-Roti and the other at higher level named Triq Piscopo Macedonia, in San Pawl il-Bahar unknown boundaries. Both apartment and garage are free and unencumbered and valued at €265,000. 22 nd January, 2019 11.00am 49/17 -EGL APS Bank Limited (C2192) vs Dr. Josette Sultana et noe Tenement officially numbered 19 named "San Domenico", in Old Hospital Street, Valletta, with its overlying airspace, free and unencumbered, with all its rights and enjoyments, valued at €685,000 24 th January, 2019 11.00am 44/13 – EM HSBC Bank Malta Plc (C3177) vs MARSHALL LIMITED (C-10331) • Garage 282, Marshall Place, Triq il-Kampanella, Fgura: property consisting of a garage for business purposes of around 260m2, free and unencumbered, at street level, having a narrow yard on the back. There are also toilets and a small store and a small spiral staircase leading to garage number 13 Chanel Drive. The property is valued at €350,000. • Garage unofficially numbered 13, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting in an 'L' shape with access from Chanel Drive, of around 100m2, free and unencumbered, at basement level. There is also a small toilet and a small shaft. The property is valued at €110,000. • Garage unofficially numbered 16, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting in an 'L' shape with access from Chanel Drive of around 105 m2, free and unencumbered, having an open space at the back which joins with garage number 13 and also having a shaft. The property is valued at €110,000. 29 th January, 2019 10.30am 14/17– EGL Dr Edward DeBono (ID 592758M) in his quality of special mandatory and on behalf and in rapresentation of BNP Paribas (suisse) SA society vs Paul Hili (K.I.501758M), Angela Hili (K.I. 353258M), T.A.M.Holdings Limited (C45710) Villa named 'Is-Sienja', unofficially numbered in Triq Ras il- Wardija formerly known as Triq San Gorg in Wardija, limits of San Pawl il- Baħar together with the adjacent land measuring 15,800 metres squared. The property is free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtanances valued at €13,600,000. i) Garage numbered 16 that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 7,600. j) Garage 19 on the siteplan but 20 on site that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 9,100. k) Garage numbered 20 on the siteplan but numbered 19 on site that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 9,100. Each property marked (a) to (k) in this advert includes an undivided share and access to the common parts,including the drive way,hall entrance,common ramps,and common stair wells. Store numbered 1 forming part of an unamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. Presently the property is rented at the rate of €300 monthly as a shop named 'Aurora Bar'. In the rent fee the rent of garage 17 is also included. The property is valued at € 50,500. Half undivided share of a store numbered 2 forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. Presently the store is rented as a shop named 'Burn Out' with a rent of € 780 every three months. The rent fee also includes jinkludi the rent of garage 16. The store underlays property of third parties and has a direct access to garage numbered 16. This undivided share is valued at € 22,375. Garage unnamed and unumbered underlaying property of third party in Triq Ġanni Bonavia, Haż Żabbar valued at €137,000. 31 st January, 2019 11.00am 84/16– EGL HSBC Bank Malta Plc (C3177) vs Avantgarde Holdings Ltd (C27163) Showroom unnamed and unnumbered previously known as 'Il- Gorna' or 'Il- Kenn' in Triq Dun Karm Psaila, Birkirkara including its airspace, free and unencumbered valued at € 490,000. 31 st January, 2019 11.30am 29/17– EGL HSBC Bank Malta Plc (C3177) vs Teddy Aurther Maskell (ID 12636A) et Tenement numbered 104, named Sempre Viva, situated on the first floor including roof and airspace, overlaying two garages with access from Triq il-Klerku, Fgura. One of the garages has the drainage and drain pipes system passing through it. The tenement is free and unencumbered and valued at €170,000. Unnamed garage numbered 100, underlaying a maisonette with access from Triq il- Klerku, Fgura, including the drains pipes and drainage system of the overlaying property. The garage is free and unencumbered and valued at €55,000. Further details can be obtained from the website: https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/JudicialSales The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card Gaetana Aquilina For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals i) Garage numbered 16 that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 7,600. j) Garage 19 on the siteplan but 20 on site that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 9,100. k) Garage numbered 20 on the siteplan but numbered 19 on site that can be accessed from a common driveway forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. The garage is subject to an annual rent of €500 and valued at € 9,100. Each property marked (a) to (k) in this advert includes an undivided share and access to the common parts,including the drive way,hall entrance,common ramps,and common stair wells. Store numbered 1 forming part of an unamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. Presently the property is rented at the rate of €300 monthly as a shop named 'Aurora Bar'. In the rent fee the rent of garage 17 is also included. The property is valued at € 50,500. Half undivided share of a store numbered 2 forming part of an unnamed and unumbered block accessible from Triq Wied il- Għajn, Żabbar. Presently the store is rented as a shop named 'Burn Out' with a rent of € 780 every three months. The rent fee also includes jinkludi the rent of garage 16. The store underlays property of third parties and has a direct access to garage numbered 16. This undivided share is valued at € 22,375. Garage unnamed and unumbered underlaying property of third party in Triq Ġanni Bonavia, Haż Żabbar valued at €137,000. 31 st January, 2019 11.00am 84/16– EGL HSBC Bank Malta Plc (C3177) vs Avantgarde Holdings Ltd (C27163) Showroom unnamed and unnumbered previously known as 'Il- Gorna' or 'Il- Kenn' in Triq Dun Karm Psaila, Birkirkara including its airspace, free and unencumbered valued at € 490,000. 31 st January, 2019 11.30am 29/17– EGL HSBC Bank Malta Plc (C3177) vs Teddy Aurther Maskell (ID 12636A) et Tenement numbered 104, named Sempre Viva, situated on the first floor including roof and airspace, overlaying two garages with access from Triq il-Klerku, Fgura. One of the garages has the drainage and drain pipes system passing through it. The tenement is free and unencumbered and valued at €170,000. Unnamed garage numbered 100, underlaying a maisonette with access from Triq il- Klerku, Fgura, including the drains pipes and drainage system of the overlaying property. The garage is free and unencumbered and valued at €55,000. Further details can be obtained from the website: https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/JudicialSales The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card Gaetana Aquilina For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals he light at the end of lac Egrant was a lie, but 17 Black is not: why has political responsibility not been shouldered? DAVID HUDSON HUDSON