Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1291181
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWS Jobsplus 344/2020 - Reference Number BCAHR 008/2020 BUILDING INSPECTORS CAREER OPPORTUNITY All applications should be submitted by noon on Monday, 5th October 2020 For more information you may visit our website; bca.org.mt/careers NICOLE MEILAK PRIME Minister Robert Abe- la has greeted news of an asset freeze on Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to his prede- cessor, as a sign of his administra- tion's 'good governance'. But he refused to consider that inquiries should be held on such major projects such as the Electrogas power plan or the In- dividual Investor Programme, decisions in which the Muscat administration was also driven by Schembri's say-so. "I speak for my administration... there's no doubt that all the in- stitutions are robust, they're discharging their duties without interference. This is the coun- try I believe in: strong economic growth coupled with good gov- ernance," Abela told MaltaToday on Tuesday morning. "If there is any investigation that is required – and investigations have indeed taken place – any shortcomings must be investigat- ed. It doesn't mean that if you had one or two persons who commit- ted something wrong, then either Electrogas or the IIP should be scrapped… indeed the IIP's reve- nue has allowed us to launch the COVID-wage supplement." Abela had more sanguine views of the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry, which he wants concluded by December 2020. "I don't agree that such a public inquiry should take so long, and that is why I want the public in- quiry to be over by December 2020; so that any remedial action can be taken on the basis of that inquiry. PM reacts to asset freeze CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 By the time of going to print, Schembri remained under arrest at the police depot. His lawyers insisted that the po- lice tell them whether there were any kickbacks, as alleged in the criminal complaint against the for- mer chief of staff. However, legal sources who spoke to MaltaToday said the police had no obligation to reveal the contents of the inquiry, which by its nature is secret. "The inquiry may have informa- tion on third parties that could prejudice investigations if re- vealed," the sources said. The police investigation is linked to allegations that emerged in April 2017 that Schembri received €100,000 in kickbacks from Tonna over the sale of Maltese citizenship to a Russian family. The money was transferred by Tonna to Schem- bri's accounts in two tranches of €50,000 each. Allegations based on FIAU report Allegations that Schembri took a kickback on passport sales were first made by then Nationalist Par- ty leader Simon Busuttil, who based the charges on a leaked Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit report. The FIAU report flagged suspi- cions of money laundering con- cerning Schembri and Tonna. Both men denied the claims and said the €100,000 was repayment of an old loan. Busuttil eventually took the mat- ter in front of a magistrate and that inquiry was concluded earlier this month and passed on to the Attor- ney General. Schembri testified in the inquiry with his lawyers yesterday insisting that from now on what was impor- tant was not what their client said but the conclusions made by the magistrate. Police can detain individuals for 48 hours, after which they will have to press charges or release the sus- pects. Muscat's chief of staff Schembri was made chief of staff by Muscat in 2013, occupying the role until November 2019 when businessman Yorgen Fenech was arrested in connection with Daph- ne Caruana Galizia's murder. Schembri was implicated in the murder and had been arrested and interrogated by the police but later released. He was never charged but in court testimony, the police said he remained a person of interest in Schembri's lawyers insist police release magisterial inquiry contents