Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/825522
13 maltatoday THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2017 Editorial Accusations of money laundering MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 • Fax: (356) 21 385075 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt The revelations made yester- day by the leader of oppo- sition referred to sizeable transactions from offshore companies to accounts here in Malta and abroad between Keith Schembri and the Adrian Hillman a former managing director of The Times. According to Dr Bu- suttil, the transactions date back to 2011 and continue until 2015. The leader of opposition said he would present his proof of these transactions to the Magistrate and he added that he had no faith in the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General. He said that the police had information about these transactions as far back as a year. MaltaToday asked Dr Bu- suttil if the transactions were related in any way to the con- struction and development of the Progress press site by the Kasco group of companies where Keith Schembri was a director and is still a major- ity shareholder. The allegations of money launderings and kickbacks are serious, later in the evening Keith Schembri and Adrian Hillman issued a statement saying they had paid tax on all transactions and had invoices to prove this. Schembri said his business invoices has all been docu- mented, declared and tax paid thereon here in Malta. The same was stated by Adrian Hillman who added that this was declared. He also said he would seeking legal advice regarding Busut- til's statements. The truth is that the busi- ness links and life of Keith Schembri has come back to haunt. It was inevitable that the activities and successes of his business past would be used as fodder to bring him down. The issue clearly being that a businessman in the post of chief of staff would always raise questions. A reality check would show these perceptions and reali- ties may impact directly on Joseph Muscat. The first magisterial inquiry From the start of this elec- toral campaign, there were a number of questions which were more than just justified in being asked. Will the magisterial inquiry be finalized before the elec- tion? And what will happen if the findings of the inquiry are published before or after the election? The truth is that Magistrate Aaron Bugeja knows that his inquiry will have a crucial impact on the election. Needless to say he has obli- gations, the first is to present the facts and the truth and the second is to present these findings in the shortest time possible. There is little doubt that Magistrate Bugeja is well aware of the implications of his decision. And that he must ride high and over the toxic feelings on both sides of the political spectrum and get on with it. There is nothing more sublime and supreme than the truth. If the report, findings and investigations are finalized they should be published at once. This should give the public something to go by. In a sea of conf licting statements. The Prime Minister has already made it very clear that he will step down if the allegations are proven to be true. The leader of opposi- tion has been more cautious by stating that he is not the one with a Panama account. But whether we like it or not, as in all things, it is perception that counts. Either way the inquiry goes there are ramifications and repercussions. There are no two ways about it, the public deserve to know the truth.