Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1186350
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 However, the suspect was said to have requested im- munity in the form of the pardon on all past crimes, before giving evidence. "This request was put to me. I have spoken to investigators and the Attorney General, and we agreed that a blanket im- munity cannot be given on all this person's cases, unless all evidence is corroborated in the court of law." Muscat said he signed a let- ter in which he committed himself to the pardon, only once all evidence on the Caru- ana Galizia murder can be as- certained will be corroborated in the courts of law. "The person has the assur- ance that… if the evidence will be enough for us to cap- ture the person who commis- sioned the murder." Muscat appealed for pru- dence on the case, and said he wanted the investigative authorities not to rush until there is solid enough evidence to bring the perpetrators of the murder to justice. Four hours later, after the end of the Cabinet meeting, ministers emerged from Cas- tille with similar comments, saying they support Muscat's decision to award the pardon. Economy minister Chris Car- dona said he fully supported Muscat's decision to recom- mend awarding a pardon. "The Prime Minister was very clear in his comments to journalists this morning, and I have nothing to add," Car- dona said. Cardona refused to com- ment on whether the decision was discussed during the cabi- net meeting. "What is discussed during cabinet meetings is secret and confidential, and I will not be talking about what was dis- cussed," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne reiterated Cardona's comments, also supporting Muscat's decision. "We will support the Prime Minister in what he is doing,' Fearne said. In a statement, Opposition leader Adrian Delia called on the government to make use of all the means at its disposal to bring to justice the master- mind. "The PN calls on the Mal- tese government to make use of all procedures and means at hand within the law, even those exceptional ones, in order to catch who ordered, financed, and executed the as- sassination of Daphne Caru- ana Galizia. The PN publicly thanks and sends a message of courage to the members of the judiciary and investiga- tors involved in the process for justice to be made with Daphne Caruana Galizia, her family and relatives, the jour- nalists who endangered their lives in the search for truth, as well with all Maltese society." Money laundering arrest The suspected "middleman" was arrested by police on Thursday last week during a raid that targeted a suspected money laundering ring the man forms part of. Experts from Europol seized devices in the middleman's possession on instruction of the magistrate leading the murder inquiry. Europol's analysis of his devices will of- fer up further evidence about those involved in the assassi- nation. According to The Times, po- lice believe there are at least one or two other suspects in- volved in the murder but who have not yet been rounded up. The middleman is believed to have linked the person sus- pected of commissioning the murder of Caruana Galizia to the men who carried out the murder, as well as those who helped procure the explosive device. The key to the problematic hypothesis of a double-tiered conspiracy in the assassi- nation of Daphne Caruana Galizia – the existence of a middleman who facilitated the mastermind – lies in un- ravelling a complex web of fi- nancial transactions, probably originating from a foreign source of income processed by a Maltese bank. This elusive piece of evi- dence would connect the mas- termind to a criminal ring, or a handler already familiar with the Degiorgio brothers. The second obstacle is to prove this lasting relationship with George Degiorgio 'ic-Ci- niz', and Alfred Degiorgio 'il- Fulu', the material executors of the assassination, whom police investigators place higher up the criminal con- fraternity than Vince Muscat 'il-Kohhu'. The Caruana Galizia assassi- nation was the last in a series of car bombs and gangland murders that had been previ- ously portrayed as a chain of vendettas in the world of oil smuggling and drug traffick- ing. All three accused, including Vince Muscat 'il-Kohhu', have claimed to be unemployed, yet they lived a far-from-penniless lifestyle, owning luxury cars and pleasure boats, although no immovable property. Property rents were paid in cash. Large transactions were wired to foreign recipients. Alfred Degiorgio played some €571,000 in Tumas-owned ca- sinos. Now all three and George Degiorgio's partner Adelina Pop are facing money laun- dering charges. NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 NOVEMBER 2019 2 Joseph Muscat, seen here (left) with justice minister Owen Bonnici, addressed the press on his way to Castille Suspect wants immunity on all past crimes for information on Caruana Galizia murder "I have spoken to investigators and the Attorney General, and we agreed that a blanket immunity cannot be given on all this person's cases, unless all evidence is corroborated in the court of law"