Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/829524
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2017 5 News Simon Busuttil wants FIAU to publish unconcluded report MATTHEW AGIUS THE Financial Intelligence Analy- sis Unit should immediately pub- lish an unfinished investigation in- to whether minister Konrad Mizzi and the prime minister's chief of staff, Keith Schembri, received kickbacks from the owners of the LNG tanker berthed at the Deli- mara gas plant, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil insisted yesterday. Busuttil suggested that the FIAU was possibly being held back from publishing its investigations before the election. The FIAU is tasked with carrying out investigations and compliance visits over suspicious transactions, but its reports are then forward- ed to the police force to decide whether a criminal investigation is to take place. But Busuttil was adamant when confronted with the FIAU's disa- vowal of the allegations published in The Malta Independent on the role of a Dubai company connect- ed to Armada Floating Gas Ser- vices Malta. "I have a challenge for the FIAU. If you are so convinced about your report, publish it now," he said. "I would not be surprised at all to learn that a government agency was prevented from completing an investigation during an electoral campaign, especially when that investigation is pointing towards Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri also making money on the LNG tanker deal. "I therefore promise, that I, the PN and Forza Nazzjonali, if given the trust of the Maltese people next week, will immediately call upon the FIAU to conclude their investi- gation into this case without delay. We will also naturally involve the police in this investigation." The PN leader also pledged to order the FIAU and the police to investigate reports of corruption involving Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri in the LNG tanker deal "immediately after taking the oath of office," calling the new allega- tions "beyond shocking". "This is beyond shocking, it is disgusting. If it emerges that they benefited from the tanker deal, this is a criminal act," Busuttil said, pointing out that an LNG tanker was not on Labour's 2013 manifes- to when it proposed a land-based regasification unit for Delimara, "The Attorney General is terri- fied of these people and does their bidding. You don't expect this from an Attorney General who is leading the FIAU. Instead of un- covering criminality, he is covering it up." Busuttil also defended his two deputy leaders from accusations by Joseph Muscat. In one case, the PM said Mario de Marco was the director of Cypriot company Twinkleday, which was declared in his parliamentary register of as- sets; while he also said that a sealed reported from the three-judge inquiry into CapitalOne, dealing with Beppe Fenech Adami's role as fiduciary director of a company suspected of money laundering, had been forwarded to the police and the FIAU. Busuttil hit out at one of the re- tired judges, Philip Sciberras, over having expressed himself negative- ly in his regard on Facebook posts; and said that the CapitalOne in- quiry had found nothing to render Fenech Adami culpable. "The Prime Minister is denying known facts," Busuttil said. "The inquiry found absolutely nothing." /FrancoMercieca @FrancoMercieca 'Franco is a clear example of how one can achieve results through honesty and hard work' – Joseph Muscat 'The Attorney General is terrified of these people and does their bidding' THIS IS A PAID ADVERT