Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1201983
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JANUARY 2020 SPORT LATEST RESULTS NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The magisterial inquiry was launched on an application by the civil society NGO Re- pubblika, accusing the firm of alleged trading in influence in connection with the sale of Maltese passports. But Chetcuti, who has shown the full video to MaltaToday, insists he has done nothing wrong and accused the French TV producers of having car- ried out a "dishonest cut-and- paste" of what was a one hour and 20 minute conversation, to give the impression that he could use political connections to serve clients who fail due diligence on the Individual In- vestor Programme. "The video shows I did not say anything of that sort… I did not say I could get rejections of IIP applicants overturned, but that I could avoid an expensive re- jection by withdrawing these clients early on if the IIP's as- sessment of bad press renders the applicant unapprovable. "The spirit of the entire con- versation was about the strict standards of due diligence em- ployed in the IIP, yet the few seconds in which I reply to the journalist's isolated questions about whether I know a min- ister or not were amplified to suit a preconceived narrative. "The video shows how mis- represented the entire conver- sation was, which is why I have submitted the entire recording to the magistrate because there was no attempt at trading in in- fluence," Chetcuti said. Chetcuti denied suggesting he could lobby a minister to push through the IIP application of someone rejected by the Mal- ta IIP Agency or because they have a criminal record. "The recording clearly shows me telling the journalist that clients facing rejection because of early due diligence prob- lems, or criminal histories, are not even onboarded," Chetcuti says. The M6 programme por- trayed Chetcuti as being boast- ful about his wife knowing for- mer citizenship parliamentary secretary Julia Farrugia-Portel- li, and of having known former prime minister Joseph Muscat as a school-friend. But the full video shows Chetcuti answering an isolat- ed question from the journal- ist as to whether he personally knew Farrugia-Portelli. In the ensuing conversation on Mal- ta's small size, Chetcuti then volunteers information that he was a school-mate of Joseph Muscat. "I was replying to isolated questions from the journalist, but the context is far removed from any suggestion that these contacts could help me over- come rejection of clients." Chetcuti was also portrayed at the start of the French TV reveal as if he was boasting of passport parties held his office. Yet the full recording shows him saying – at the end of the long conversation – that his clients get their passports, and they are encouraged to invest more in the country by open- ing up businesses or buying re- al estate. Early warning of rejection The lawyer contends that he does not pursue any applica- tions when the MIIPA finds problems with client applica- tions or histories at a prelimi- nary screening stage, unless he can provide information that assuages initial concerns. Still, leaked excerpts of the full video that were published on Rutube.com, also appeared to show Chetcuti saying he could obtain helpful 'hints' from the MIIPA as to wheth- er an unsuccessful application could be aided by proving more information. Controversially, Chetcuti says in the full video (55'50''): "There are limited cases where we can fight for a reconsidera- tion, but the odds are against you, with a first-level rejection… because there's no appeals mechanism" – a reference to the MIIPA's prerogative to reject applications without explaining the reason and without any chance of appeal. "In fact, for me it's just lob- bying. I keep on a friendly lev- el… so I don't tell the minister 'you've done a mistake or you've done a bad job'. We say 'look, I think with some more informa- tion, we can have a fuller pic- ture' – and sometimes, because they can't tell me what the reason is, they can wink when I suggest certain things. And therefore it helps me submit in- formation that can contradict that information." Chetcuti also says he fore- warns applicants that he can- Magistrate handed raw Football Premier League Tarxien Rainbows 0 Hibernians 4 Tarxien starting line-up: Rudy Briffa, Thomas Veronese, Destin Mambouana, Brandon Muscat, Gary Camilleri (Keith Attard-78), Aleksa Andrejic, Steve Shaba (Nevin Portelli-38), Matthew Tabone, Petar Kanzurov, Andres Tenorio (Miguel Ciantar-31), Daniel Zerafa Hibernians starting line-up: Marko Jovicic, Ferdinando Apap, Jens Wemmer, Joseph Mbong (Timothy abone Desira-67), Jake Grech, Jurgen Degabriele, Bjorn Kristensen, Duntsan Vella (Ayrton Attard-78), Gabriel Artiles (Myles Beerman-52), Andrei Agius, Imanol Iriberri Referee: Ishmael Barbara Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, James Muscat Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant BOV Player of the Match: Imanol Iriberri (Hibernians) Scorers: Imanol Irreberri 2', 17', Jake Grech 42', Jurgen Degabriele 76' Balzan 1 Floriana 3 Balzan starting line-up: Kristijan Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Nenad Slijivic, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina, Paul Fenech (Samir Arab-84), Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Arthur Faria Machado (Alfred Effiong-69), Andrija Majdevac, Luke Montebello Floriana starting line-up: Ini Etim Akpan, Enzo Ruiz, Diego Venancio, Kristian Keqi, Jose Arias Ulises, Brandon Paiber (Augustu Caseres-67), Jurgen Pisani, Matias Garcia (Clyde Borg-86), Alexander Cini, Ryan Camenzuli, Tiago Adan Fonseca (Jan Busuttil-90) Referee: Matthew Degabriele Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Theodore Zammit Fourth Official: Alex Johnson BOV Player of the Match: Uros Ljubomirac (Balzan) Scorers: Tiago Adan 38', Augusto René Cáseres 76', Kristian Keqi 90 + 3' Gudja Utd 1 Hamrun Spartans 1 Scorers: Dê 66', Soufiane Lagzir 11' Birkirkara FC 1 Senglea Athletic 1 Scorers: Federico Falcone 31', Jose Wikson Teixeira Rocha 44' TODAY'S MATCHES Sirens vs Mosta 2pm Gzira United vs Santa Lucija 4pm TOMORROW Valletta vs Sliema 7pm