Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/871892
13 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 SALES EXECUTIVES MediaToday is a media company involved in the publication of newspapers, magazines and TV programmes. These include MaltaToday, Illum, Gourmet Today, Xtra and Dwarna. Vacancies have arisen for sales executives. Experience in the sale of advertising space is an asset. Candidates for the job must be assertive, outgoing and in possession of a driving license. Only selected applicants will be summoned for an interview. Closing date: 09/15/2017 Please send your applications to: The Managing Editor MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016 Or email: info@mediatoday.com.mt court decision posits as a "banking stunt" that was 10 times more attractive than other bank offers. "The story is reminiscent of IceSave. That's right: two men of an Ice- landic bank sitting behind the bench. Nemea is not supervised by the Dutch National Bank. Is it safe? You have been warned." Nemea Bank PLC is owned by Nemea PLC, itself owned by Nevestor SA of Belgium (40%) and Ninovan Ltd and Shilmore Ltd of Cyprus (30% each). The bank is ultimately jointly owned by its founders, and directors Heikki Niemelä and Mika Lehto. Former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi and financier Joseph F.X. Zahra had been directors prior to the suspension of the banking licence. The bank posted a €214,000 pre-tax profit in the three- month period ended 31 March, 2016, on income of €865,000. In 2015, the bank posted a €207,000 pre-tax profit on oper- ating income of €2.9 million. Malta and the seizure of assets worth €2 billion. Six of the firms owned by mem- bers of the Calabrian criminal or- ganisation were operating out of Malta, and used to launder vast sums of illicit cash through the remote gaming business. "The case has raised some con- cerns around the online gambling market and the potential for its abuse by criminal organisations," Europol noted, saying that due diligence checks resulting from the EU's fourth anti-Money Laun- dering Directive will also affect Malta's remote gaming industry – with over 400 licences granted. In 2016 the FIAU noted a sig- nificant increase in STRS received from remote gaming companies, 172% over 2015 related to foreign persons with limited connections to Malta. The FIAU said that in 2016 it dealt with 710 cases, 20% of which started back in 2015, and of these cases it concluded 364 with a fur- ther 346 cases ongoing. But 39 analytical reports were sent to the police following a determination of reasonable suspicion of money laundering – in other cases the FIAU said it sent intelligence reports to foreign FIUs instead of triggering an investigation in Malta. In 2016, an increase in penalties meted out by the FIAU saw a total of €126,775 levied over 167 cases – just administrative sanctions of €250 on banks, trustees and fiduciaries, lawyers, accountants, notaries, and financial services brokers. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Nemea Bank owners Heikki Niemelä and Mika Lehto STRs registered in Malta Type 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Credit institutions 58 66 112 136 344 Financial institutions 12 8 17 11 30 Investment licensees 3 10 9 26 12 Insurnace licensees 0 1 1 7 9 Supervisory authorities 4 2 3 10 7 Legal professionals 3 8 5 11 5 Remote gaming companies 14 17 22 32 87 Casino licensees 6 0 1 3 4 Trustees & fiduciaries 13 7 12 16 19 Real estate agents 0 0 2 6 3 Accounting professionals 5 3 2 4 6 Regulated markets 1 1 1 0 1 Company service providers 18 15 13 18 34 Retirement adminstrators 0 0 1 1 2 Others 5 5 1 0 2 TOTAL 142 143 202 281 565 MIRIAM DALLI CALLING on the government and society not to allow a proposed de- bate on prostitution to drag, the Partit Demokratiku has suggested Malta should follow the Nordic model, under which 'clients' – those who seek prostitution – are criminal- ised and prostitutes decriminalised. The PD, through its ongoing '2L Campaign' – Live and Love Cam- paign – argued that prostitution was an obstacle to gender equality and a violation of one's dignity and fundamental human rights. "Partit Demokratiku believes that the proposed debate by the govern- ment should not drag and a conclu- sion be reached forthwith. This de- bate has been postponed for far too long, with a number of fits and starts that stretch over some years," it said. The PD also suggested that the legislation should be presented as a separate government bill, alongside the Domestic Violence Bill: "Prosti- tution is closely related to policies that involve violence against sexes and gender inequality." The party came out against legal- ising prostitution, insisting that this would elevate the status of "an im- moral activity to a status of a legal business and would exacerbate the problems rather than solve them." Criminalising those who pay for sex and decriminalising those who are sexually exploited would "stop the trade in procuring, pimping or sex trafficking", the PD insisted. The government's policy must also discourage and reduce the demand that fosters such casual encounters through health and education: "A public awareness campaign would be an asset. A continued profes- sional programme should also be addressed to the police, law enforce- ment agents and the judiciary." A third proposal is to increase pun- ishment over the sexual exploitation of minors. The PD insisted that it should be made clear in the law that 16- and 17-year-olds are to be banned from participating in such activity. The statement was made in view of the proposal to lower the age of consent from 18 to 16. To help the prostitutes them- selves, the government must also develop a plan of action with Job- sPlus, by which the prostitutes would find adequate and alternative employment, the PD added. "It is an undeniable fact that the objectification (commodity) of us- ing a woman's body, and the nor- malisation of selling and buying sex, jeopardises Malta's moral values and society as a whole." "The life circumstances of those involved denote vulnerability and characterise a poor well-being that may be linked to economic poverty. Also rampant is physical and emo- tional violence against women, more so by pimps who keep prostitutes under their thumb," the PD said. Partit Demokratiku invited all those who are interested, organisa- tions that support human rights and those who are against gender-based violence to get in touch and send in their feedback about this issue on partitdemokratiku@gmail.com. PD: Criminalise those who seek prostitution, not the prostitutes The Partit Demokratiku believes that Malta should follow the Nordic model, which is built around the criminalisation of demand for sexual services