Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1420685
5 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 OCTOBER 2021 MATTHEW AGIUS A BOV representative has told a court that the bank had filed a judicial protest over media re- ports about the bank's testimony in high profile money laundering cases. A procession of representa- tives from various banks and State institutions testified this morning before the court col- lecting evidence about mon- ey laundering against Yorgen Fenech, who is separately in- dicted for masterminding the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Representatives from several banks testified about accounts held by Fenech and his compa- nies as the compilation of evi- dence in the money laundering case against him continued to- day before magistrate Donatel- la Frendo Dimech. Fenech is accused of laun- dering and misappropriating funds belonging to a company that he owns with his uncle, Ray Fenech. Last month, the magistrate decreed that she had seen sufficient evidence to place Yorgen Fenech, who is separately accused of mas- terminding the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, under indictment. Amongst the witnesses today was BOV representative Silvio Chetcuti who took the stand, asking the court to allow him to testify behind closed doors. The representative explained that "every time we testify, af- ter the testimony, we go out there and find X said this and that." He added that a judicial protest on this matter was filed, although it was not immediate- ly clear against whom. "I cannot order the media not to publish that a bank repre- sentative took the stand," the magistrate replied. Chetcuti clarified that the concern was about the content of his testi- mony. "The content is not in the in- terest of the media," he said. His request for a ban was de- nied by the court, but the mag- istrate made it clear that no sensitive account details relat- ing to private individuals are to be published. Lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianluca Caruana Curran and Marion Camilleri are appear- ing for Fenech. Lawyers Cinzia Azzopardi Alamango and Marthese Grech from the Office of the Attor- ney General are prosecuting together with Police Inspector Brian Camilleri. Yorgen Fenech money laundering case: BOV files judicial protest over media reports Yorgen Fenech Mizzi will face PAC 'in order not to allow PN to disrupt government's work' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Yesterday, the Nationalist Par- ty tabled a motion, demanding Konrad Mizzi appear in front of the Public Accounts Committee today. Mizzi had refused to at- tend the PAC on two previous occasions. "This motion is only an at- tempt to deviate the attention away from the discourse of the Prime Minister, with regards to the 2022 Budget," Mizzi said in a Facebook post yesterday after- noon. "Although in the previous weeks, I chose not to attend as per the guidelines of the com- mittee, today in order to not al- low the Nationalists to disrupt the government's work and the PM's speech, I choose to attend the committee." 'Irresponsible' In a press conference earlier, the Nationalist MP and chair- man of the public accounts com- mittee Beppe Fenech Adami said Konrad Mizzi's decision to not appear in front of the Public Ac- counts Committee was irrespon- sible. "It is unacceptable that a member of parliament is refus- ing to answer for his actions to this day. What Konrad mizzi is doing is without precedent". Former Labour Minister Kon- rad Mizzi failed twice to appear before parliament's permanent public accounts committee (PAC), to testify on the Elec- trogas project. To justify his ab- sence, Mizzi cited parliamentary rules and committee praxis. "Now the ball is in the govern- ment's court, and it should now move from words to action. We have the opportunity to pass this motion as soon as possible…we expect a vote for today so that tomorrow Konrad Mizzi will be requested to give testimony to- morrow. Robert Abela should have the courage to do so," said Fenech Adami. Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina said that the parliament should order Konrad Mizzi to appear in front of the committee. "We expect the Prime Minister Rob- ert Abela and all ministers to put down in writing that Konrad mizzi is to appear in front of the PAC," said Aquilina. PN MP Ryan Callus said that it is in everyone's interest he gives his testimony, as "Mizzi chose not to always procure energy from the cheapest source avail- able". Callus said Mizzi's decision to proceed with the hedging agree- ment with SOCAR, is reflecting on higher utility bills for every- one. From left: PN MPs Ryan Callus, Beppe Fenech Adami and Karol Aquilina addressing yesterday's press conference