Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1340314
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS KURT SANSONE AN ethics probe into claims that Ro- sianne Cutajar took a broker's fee from a property deal involving Yorgen Fenech is ongoing, Standards Commissioner George Hyzler said. Hyzler initiated the investigation last year upon a complaint by independent candidate Arnold Cassola following a MaltaToday report. Contacted by MaltaToday, Hyzler re- frained from giving any detail but said the investigation is ongoing. "I am collecting evidence and the inves- tigation is ongoing. Any information pub- lished in the media is given due consider- ation," Hyzler said. The Standards Commissioner is em- powered at law to investigate cases of unethical behaviour by MPs and other high-ranking public officials. He then makes recommendations to parliament for any necessary action. Last December, MaltaToday revealed that in May 2019, Yorgen Fenech signed a promise-of-sale agreement to buy an Mdina home. The deal fell through but Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar is now being chased for a €50,000 broker's fee she was paid in cash, but which the seller claims has not been returned. Cutajar and her political aide, Charlie Farrugia, are understood to have accom- panied Fenech when he viewed the prop- erty. Cutajar was until then a Labour MP and employed in the Office of the Prime Minister. The allegations emerged from an ex- change of correspondence between law- yers on both sides of the property deal. Cutajar denied any wrongdoing, insisting she always acted ethically. On Sunday, The Sun- day Times of Malta reported that Cuta- jar received €9,000 cash from Fenech. The parliamentary secretary has denied she had any business dealings with Fenech. Prime Minister Rob- ert Abela has said he will wait for Hyzler's investiga- tion before deciding what course of action to take on the Cutajar case. Ethics probe into Rosianne Cutajar's dealings with Yorgen Fenech ongoing Standards Commissioner George Hyzler (inset) is investigating claims that Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar (pictured above with her poitical aide Charles Farrugia) pocketed thousands in cash from a property deal involving Yorgen Fenech and which she helped broker MALTA may get a fifth casino with government's Privatisation Unit is- suing a request for proposals. The call was published in to- day's Government Gazette, with the Privatisation Unit acting on behalf of the Economy Ministry. The RFP says that the casino it- self will have to be situated in one of the tourist areas established by the Malta Tourism Authority, but cannot be in Gozo and Comino. At a minimum, the casino must hold 225 gaming devices and 15 gaming tables. Interested bidders will have to pay a concession fee of €11 mil- lion payable over thee years. Bid- ders have until 7 April this year to submit their proposals to the privatisation unit. There are currently four licensed casinos in Malta, namely Drago- nara Casino, Portomaso Casino, Casino Malta and Oracle Casino. Government issues call for new casino concession NICOLE MEILAK A bill regulating the legal profession en- tered into its second parliamentary reading on Tuesday, with the legislation looking to introduce a register of legal professionals while addressing Moneyval inefficiencies. Among the innovations is the establish- ment of a register containing informa- tion on all advocates and legal procura- tors holding a warrant. The register will be made available to the public free of charge. The Chamber of Advocates have long been pushing for a lawyers register, but was displeased with the bill when it was first published in December 2020. The Chamber said that the bill was a signif- icant departure from the draft present- ed to them, and that its only aim is to achieve the minimum requirements set out in the Moneyval report. In yesterday's hearing, Justice Minister Zammit Lewis praised the bill for tack- ling money-laundering risks faced by le- gal professionals. "We're not saying that lawyers are high-risk individuals, but that the legal profession itself is high-risk, as lawyers regularly deal with clients, offer advice, and receive money." Zammit Lewis insisted that good gov- ernance is something that must be prac- ticed among professionals as well as gov- ernment. "Our professions need to work ethically. A part of the Moneyval assess- ment has to do with self-governance among these professionals." However, he pointed out that Money- val is not the only motive behind this bill. "Moneyval gave us a push to make cer- tain changes, but ultimately it's a test of how we work as a country, not just as a government." He reaffirmed that government is do- ing everything to make sure that Malta passes its Moneyval assessment and in turn strengthen the country's reputation abroad. The bill, which amends the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, intro- duces the idea of a "fit and proper per- son" within the legal profession. Practitioners found to be in breach of the code of ethics and conduct will be subject either to a financial penalty not exceeding €25,000, or a period of impris- onment of not more than one year. Further reform is put forward concern- ing the Committee for Advocates and Legal Procurators. The chairperson of the committee will be appointed by the Commission for the Administration of Justice from amongst retired judges, while a senior official from the Ministry responsible of justice will enjoy a seat on the committee. An advocate each will be appointed by the Attorney General and State Ad- vocate, while another three lawyers will be directly appointed by the Chamber of Advocates. Zammit Lewis said that this committee will n ot be subject to political direction, as no members will be appointed directly by government. However, Opposition MP Karol Aq- uilina argued that government will still wield some control over the committee. He pointed out that the Attorney Gen- eral is chosen by government, as is the Chief Justice of Malta who holds the dep- uty chairmanship of the justice commis- sion. New bill tackles money-laundering risks faced by legal professionals