Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1343350
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS THREE men suspected of having supplied the bomb that assassi- nated Daphne Caruana Galizia were arrested in a police opera- tion on Tuesday, MaltaToday has learnt. Brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, and associate Jamie Vella were arrested as murder suspect Vince Muscat pleaded guilty in court to Caruana Galizia's mur- der. The Agius brothers and Vella had been among 10 people ar- rested in December 2017 dur- ing police raids. The three were released and never charged but George Degiorgio, brother Al- fred Degiorgio and Muscat were arraigned over the murder. In a dramatic twist to events, Muscat today pleaded guilty and is understood to have reached some form of agreement with the prosecution to supply infor- mation in exchange for a lighter sentence. Last October, the MaltaToday reported that Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, had identified two suspected gang members to the police. Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, were reportedly identified as the people who supplied the trigger- men with the explosive device. Daphne Caruana Galizia murder MATTHEW AGIUS VINCENT Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, yesterday admitted to his part in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. He was sentenced to 15 years in pris- on, and must pay €42,930 in costs to the court. His sentence will become effective immediately. Muscat admitted to all six heads of in- dictment. These were: the wilful homi- cide of Daphne Caruana Galizia, causing an explosion which led to the death of a person, illegal possession of explosives, conspiracy to carry out a crime, promo- tion of a group intending to carry out criminal acts and participation in such a group. Finding him guilty under every head of indictment, the judgment mentions that Muscat and two others had "associated themselves with third parties" to carry out the crimes. This is the first official nod to there being more than three per- sons involved in the murder. Muscat, George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio, are accused of procuring, planting and detonating the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia in Oc- tober 2017. Last week, Muscat's lawyer informed the Court of Criminal Appeal that he was withdrawing his appeal against a court judgment dismissing his 118 pre- liminary pleas. Muscat sat, eyes bloodshot and teary, in the dock yesterday afternoon before Madam Justice Edwina Grima as she asked him to confirm his change of plea. His co-accused, the Degiorgio brothers, sat stony-faced behind him. No less than eight armed prison guards separated the brothers from their former co-conspirator. Muscat's confession, together with the information he would hand over to the police, could have a domino effect on the other cases against his co-accused, Al- fred and George Degiorgio, alleged mas- termind Yorgen Fenech, and beyond. Discussions as to the man's punish- ment continued behind closed doors. Muscat had requested a presidential pardon earlier this year but this was re- jected by Cabinet. In the previous sitting in the compila- tion of evidence against the men, mid- dleman Melvin Theuma testified. Theu- ma said he feared Yorgen Fenech would try to eliminate him after Caruana Gali- zia was murdered. Last week, Vince Muscat, one of the three men charged, withdrew his appeal from a criminal court ruling that reject- ed 118 exceptions raised by the accused. Last Wednesday, the appeal was expect- ed to be heard, but Muscat advised the court that he was presenting a note on his appeal. Presidential pardon Vincent Muscat, il-Koħħu, has been granted a presidental pardon to tell all about the 2015 murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop. Cabinet approved the request during a heated meeting on Monday. Yesterday, Muscat pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Together with George Degiorgio and Alfred Degiorgio, he stands accused of procuring, planting and detonating the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Carmel Chircop, 51, was shot dead in 2015. He was hit by four bullets, and found lying in a pool of blood in a mul- ti-storey garage complex near Birkirkara primary school. Last year, MaltaToday revealed that Chirchop had loaned a substantial sum of money to people connected to the More Supermarkets bust, where millions were said to have been lost after direc- tor and owner Ryan Schembri fled the island. In March 2014, Chircop entered in- to a contract with Ryan Schembri, then appearing as director of the company Erom Limited, to loan him the sum of €750,000. Also appearing as debtors in the con- tract were Schembri's business partner Etienne Cassar, as well as Adrian Agius: one of the men first arrested by police in December 2017 in connection with the assassination of Daphne Caruana Gali- zia, and later released on police bail. Agius was arrested yesterday, together with his brother Robert and associate Jamie Vella, for supplying the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia. Suspected bomb suppliers in Caruana Galizia murder arrested by police The wreckage of the car Daphne Caruana Galizia was driving Vincent Muscat sentenced to 15 years in prison, granted pardon for 2015 murder case Carmel Chircop was shot dead in 2015