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3 NEWS 23.12.2021 FROM PAGE 1 Their actions undermined rule of law and the Maltese public's faith in their government's democratic insti- tutions and public processes." The Department of State also desig- nated Mizzi and Schembri's immedi- ate family members – Mizzi's wife, Sai Mizzi Liang, and his two minor chil- dren; Schembri's wife, Josette Schem- bri Vella, his daughter Juliana Schem- bri Vella, and his minor child. This action renders Mizzi and Schembri, and each of these members of their immediate families, ineligible for entry into the United States. "This designation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting the rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions in Malta. The Depart- ment will continue to use authorities like this to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and glob- ally." An official from the US Embassy in Malta said today's announcement sends a strong signal that the United States stands with Malta in the fight against corruption. "Public designations under author- ities such as this allow the United States to promote accountability and to disrupt and deter future abuse. The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those involved in significant corruption and will continue to use all tools available to combat corruption globally," the of- ficial said. The move against Schembri and Mizzi, the latter sacked from the La- bour parliamentary group in 2020 in connection with the Enemalta Mozu- ra wind farm scandal, has taken the Maltese government by surprise. Never before has anyone so close to a political administration or party, been affected by such a travel sanc- tion. Schembri – a businessman with major commercial interests – and Mizzi, both implicated in the Panama Papers in 2016, were Joseph Muscat's closest allies. Section 7031(c) of the Foreign Oper- ations and Related Programs Appro- priations Act, 2021, officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members "about whom the Secretary of State has credible infor- mation have been involved, directly or indirectly, in significant corruption, including corruption" shall be ineli- gible for entry into the United States. Keith Schembri held high public of- fice as the chief of staff to his friend and prime minister Joseph Muscat. He had been a key person in Mus- cat's strategy to turn Labour into a "pro-business" party, and was privy to all government workings, projects, contracts, and even sensitive national security information shared by the Se- curity Service. Meanwhile, Konrad Mizzi was the government's first energy, then health and finally tourism minister. He spearheaded the Labour Party's most controversial government projects, including the Electrogas power plant, Enemalta's Montenegro wind farm project, and the Vitals hospitals priva- tisation deal. But in 2016, Daphne Caruana Galizia Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi in the Panama Papers, showing they had opened offshore companies after the general election of 2013 and created trusts in New Zealand. The compa- nies, Tillgate Inc. and Hearnville Inc., were formally acquired by Schembri and Mizzi in the summer of 2015. It was eventually revealed that the two Panama companies stood to re- ceive payments from the Dubai-based company 17 Black for services that were never specified. Reuters then revealed in 2019 that the owner of 17 Black is Tumas Group CEO Yorgen Fenech, a shareholder in Electrogas, and that the company had an account at Noor Bank. A year later, Fenech was arrested on his yacht and identified as a "person of interest" in the Caruana Galizia mur- der investigation. Earlier this year, Keith Schembri was charged on various money laun- dering and financial crimes. The charges stemmed from allegations that Schembri transferred €650,000 through various offshore companies and then paid out in the form of finan- cial instruments. Konrad Mizzi remains an independ- ent MP after being ousted by the La- bour Party parliamentary group in June 2020 when it was revealed that Yorgen Fenech's 17 Black had profited from Enemalta's purchase of a wind farm project in Montenegro in 2015. Back then, Mizzi was energy minister. Malta should not be 'place of refuge' for the corrupt - Repubblika In reaction to the designation, NGO Repubblika warned that impunity continues to reign in Malta. "While the American authorities are taking steps against corruption tied with the Electrogas power station prject, the Maltese authorities have done nothing. In fact, up until a few days ago, Electrogas enjoyed full-page adverts in newspapers," the NGO said. Repubblika urged authorities, espe- cially the Police Commissioner and Attorney General, to take action and make sure those who abused of their power, are held accountable for their behaviour. 'A black stain on Malta' - PN The Nationalist Party said the desig- nation was unprecedented and puts Malta in a bad light. "Both the Prime Minister and his MPs continue to defend [Konrad Miz- zi and Keith Schembri] strongly in Parliament, as had happened in the Public Accounts Committee," the par- ty said in an official statement. The PN added that the Police Com- missioner and Attorney General are failing to fulfil their duties to investi- gate Keith Schembri and Konrad Miz- zi. "The situation confirms why Malta got greylisted." "Today we saw how corruption has a price - a price that the people will pay because of the Labour government's corruption." 'US stands with Malta in fight against corruption' - embassy official NGO Repubblika said that while the American authorities were taking steps against corruption tied with the Electrogas power station project (pictured), the Maltese authorities have done nothing

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