Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545920
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JULY 2026 NEWS Yorgen Fenech trial: Johann Cremona grilled over exchanges with Melvin Theuma MIKELA CASOLANI mcasolani@mediatoday.com.mt Yorgen Fenech's business associate Johann Cremona testifies how he served as sounding board for agitated murder middleman Melvin Theuma • Cremona says Theuma still paid €30,000 deposit even though Fenech told him to 'stop everything' because of election YORGEN Fenech's trial en- tered its 18th day on Tuesday and was dominated entirely by the testimony of business asso- ciate Johann Cremona. Involved in the gaming in- dustry, Cremona faced intense questioning over his role as a sounding board for murder middleman Melvin Theuma, his communications with for- mer officials in the prime min- ister's office, and secret audio recordings played in court. Fenech is on trial over charges that he masterminded the mur- der of journalist Daphne Caru- ana Galizia. Fenech is pleading not guilty. Taking the witness stand, Cre- mona explained his background in gaming with Bestplay Gam- ing Limited and his ties to Yor- gen Fenech, describing him as a business partner rather than a personal friend. He noted he initially knew Melvin Theuma strictly as a landlord collecting rent. Cremona recounted how Kenneth Camilleri, a former security guard for then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, con- tacted him in 2018 requesting a meeting with Theuma. Crem- ona testified that he overheard Theuma demand of Camilleri to "sort out their bail", with ref- erence to the arrested hitmen George Degiorgio, Alfred De- giorgio and Vince Muscat. Cremona described how a frantic Theuma showed up at his Qormi garage in mid-2018 claiming, "they betrayed me", referring to Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri. Cremona testified that Theuma fell into deep depression, contemplated jumping off a roof, and visited him everyday for an hour to vent. To calm him down, Cre- mona admitted that he would tell Theuma "fake stories" and pointing out other names in the news so he would not feel alone. Cremona confirmed that Theuma consistently identi- fied Yorgen Fenech as the sole source of funds being passed to the Degiorgio brothers. Cre- mona also admitted that after Theuma told him about his secret recordings, Cremona alerted Fenech via message that Theuma was recording him. Cremona told the court that in September 2019, Keith Schem- bri repeatedly messaged him on Signal asking, "if you speak to Yorgen, tell me". When Cre- mona eventually passed on the message to Fenech, the latter replied: "Pay him no attention." Earlier in the day, Cremo- na broke down on the witness stand while discussing the se- cret recordings made by Theu- ma. Expressing deep anger that his private conversations were taped, he admitted some of his comments were "disgusting" and the tapes ruined his life. He added that the recordings also contained details of Mario De- giorgio—brother to the arrested Degiorgio brothers—allegedly threatening former Economy Minister Chris Cardona for €400,000. Cremona testified that Theu- ma had delivered a €30,000 deposit to the Degiorgios be- fore the 2017 election despite Fenech telling him to "stop everything". Fenech had want- ed the murder to be put on hold since the election had been called. In previous testimony, the court heard that after the election, Fenech gave the go- ahead for the murder plot to proceed. The prosecution pressed Cre- mona on inconsistencies re- garding a photo Fenech had sent him on messaging app Signal, noting that while Cre- mona previously claimed there was only one person in the pho- to, he now claimed two people were present, including Chris Cardona. Responding to prosecutors, Cremona confirmed referenc- es in the tapes to former an- ti-money laundering head Ray- mond Aquilina, explaining they shared information due to their respective fields. He also clari- fied that he advised Theuma to drop lawyer Arthur Azzopardi because Azzopardi was simul- taneously representing hitman Vince Muscat (Il-Koħħu). Judge Edwina Grima suspend- ed witness testimony for the day. Johann Cremona will re- sume his cross-examination on Wednesday morning at 9am. Yorgen Fenech stands trial accused of complicity in the 2017 car bomb murder of jour- nalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, charges which he denies. The prosecution is being led by AG lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella, and Danika Vel- la, with Assistant Commission- er Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Defence is led by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gi- anella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran. Lawyers Ther- ese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile for the Caruana Galizia family. Judge Edwina Grima is presiding over the jury. Yorgen Fenech is pleading not guilty to charges that he masterminded Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder (File photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)