Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1188980
Matthew Agius David Hudson and Matthew Vella Photos: James Bianchi THE millionaire who was strutting in Valletta's back streets, smoking, chatting to journalists, d r e s s e d in a wide p i n - s t r i p e suit on Fri- day even- ing, was y e s t e r d a y charged – him, the m a s t e r - mind be- hind the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the sci- on to the Tumas empire, Yorgen Fenech. The businessman turned 38 last week, as the heat was turned up in a week where the Muscat edifice came crumbling down, signaling the end to one of Malta's most popular prime minis- ters ever. The fall from grace has been nothing short of dis- astrous for Malta. Fenech was yesterday re- manded in custody after pleading not guilty to charges relating to complicity in the mur- der of journalist Caruana Galizia. But by then, he had brought down with him Muscat – whom he suggested is implicated in the affair – as well as his chief-of-staff Keith Schembri, and also the former ministers Konrad Mizzi and Chris Car- dona. In the brief arraign- ment before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, at- tended by all of Caruana Galizia's sons, her par- ents, sisters and nieces, Fenech spoke only once to confirm his details. His lawyers, Gianluca Caruana Curran and Marion Camilleri en- tered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Before the sitting be- gan, Caruana Galizia's widower Peter, her sons Matthew, Andrew and Paul looked sombre, the emotional toll of the past two years etched on their faces. The sons embraced their grand- parents, Michael and Rose and other family members before sitting down. The tension in the courtroom was heav y as family members and re- porters from around the globe sat, awaiting the arrival of the magistrate. Earlier yesterday the Court of Magistrates threw out a request to have Fenech's repeated arrest and release de- clared illegal, ruling that his release from police custody for a total of 22 hours made his release from arrest effective in terms of the law. Lawyer Jason Azzopar- di, appearing on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family, explained to re- porters that the charges of complicity to murder carry with them the same punishment of murder: life imprisonment. Fenech looked impas- sive as he sat in the dock in a charcoal grey suit, justice finally having caught up with him two years since the 2017 murder. 2 2 0 SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2019 • ISSUE 1048 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF BOLD JOURNALISM WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT/20YEARS €1.95 The millionaire accused of assassinating Daphne PAGE 2 MALTA'S BEST FOR COMMENT INSIDE • MT2 maltatoday 2 INSIDE • LISTINGS • TV • LAW • CLASSIFIEDS Q & A Scott Dixon This Week Noah Fabri Film Doctor Sleep Down comes the Muscat edifice PGS 21-26 How to build a fire- wall between politics and business? PAGE 4 YORGEN FENECH CHARGED Tumas magnate Yorgen Fenech pleads not guilty to complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia Henchmen's grins: Fenech's enforcer inside Castille with Schembri PG 3 Mastermind: Tumas magnate Yorgen Fenech