Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545509
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 JUNE 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Among reports where an of- fence was identifiable, fraud was the most prominent, ap- pearing in 28% of total reports, while tax crimes and drug traf- ficking accounted for 8% and 4% respectively. The most frequent trigger for filing a report was an unknown source of wealth or funds, which was cited in 4,583 instances. Other significant reasons for suspicion included customers becoming uncooperative, noted in 2,603 reports, and the discov- ery of adverse media findings on subjects, which occurred in 1,726 cases. Furthermore, 1,148 reports were related to unex- plained wealth, while 400 cases involved potential circumven- tion or violation of sanctions When it comes to fines, the FIAU imposed administrative penalties and measures totaling €1,340,242 throughout 2025. According to the report, the FIAU's management of the Cen- tralised Bank Account Register (CBAR) now tracks 1.9 million IBAN accounts and records for 1.26 million people. In 2025, the FIAU performed 21,000 search- es on the register, which also in- cludes 1,200 safe deposit boxes and safe custody services. Regarding cash restrictions, the FIAU received 88 reports and concluded 82 cases involv- ing the review of 214 persons or organizations and 112 transac- tions, with 75% of these reports originating from banks. 2025 saw 3,712 reports from crypto asset service providers, up from 1,751 the previous year Casual election to fill Carmelo Abela's 3 District seat set for Friday THE Electoral Commission received nominations for the casual election for the seat va- cated by Carmelo Abela. The nominations received are from Ray Abela, Martina Paula Buhagiar, James Grech, and Eric Plumpton. The casual election will take place next Friday at the Naxxar Counting Hall at 9am. When Parliament opened last Saturday, Carmelo Abela gave up his 3 District seat when he was elected Speaker after a unanimous vote. Shortly after the election of the Speaker, the election for dep- uty Speaker took place, where Nationalist Party MP Bernard Grech was nominated for the role, as he was elected with the support of both sides. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Famke Janssen brings masterclass to the Mediterrane Film Festival FAMKE Janssen, the interna- tionally acclaimed actress best known for her portrayal of Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise, has been announced as a head- liner for a masterclass at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Malta this week. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Janssen has established herself as one of Hollywood's most recognisable performers. Her credits include the Taken film series, a turn as a Bond Girl in GoldenEye and a role in the television drama Nip/ Tuck. Her attendance adds anoth- er high-profile international name to this year's festival pro- gramme, which continues to draw leading figures from across the global film industry. Janssen will lead the master- class Inside the Craft – A Con- versation with Famke Janssen on Thursday 25 June from 10:00am to 11:30am, giving audiences a chance to gain insight into her career, creative process and ex- periences working on some of the world's most successful film and television productions. She joins a line-up of actors, filmmakers and industry pro- fessionals gathering in Malta to celebrate film, creativity and storytelling. Throughout the festival week, audiences can attend a range of screenings, masterclasses and special events across multiple venues. Registration and ticket book- ings are open now on mediter- rane.com. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt The X-Men and Taken star arrives in Malta this week to share insights from a screen career spanning more than three decades Janssen will lead the masterclass Inside the Craft – A Conversation with Famke Janssen on Thursday 25 June