Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/919364
maltatoday SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 2017 4 News IT was the most sensational news to hit Maltese headlines: the story of the year, a white-hot mystery that would push Malta's Prime Minister to call early elections, and an unresolved matter that remains under the inquiry of a magistrate. Did Joseph Muscat and his wife own a secret offshore company in Panama and receive money trans- fers from a Pilatus beneficiary, pos- sibly no less than the daughter of Azerbaijani ruler Ilham Aliyev? Sensational, because it hit all the buttons of the narrative of cor- ruption that pervaded the Muscat administration under assault by Simon Busuttil's opposition. There was Panamagate, the uncomfort- able relationship with the suppliers of LNG in Electrogas, and a direct accusation of embezzlement with a private bank favoured by the PM's chief-of-staff. In April Malta was caught up in an unfolding drama over the identity of the ultimate beneficial owner of a secret Panama offshore company whose name first broke during the Panama Papers revela- tions of April 2016: Egrant. Back then Egrant was seen as the third, mysterious company formed alongside Konrad Mizzi's Hearnville Inc. and Keith Schem- bri's Tillgate; and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's decision not to sack his energy minister and chief- of-staff, let alone the lack of a po- lice investigation into the Panama Papers affair, turned him into the convenient suspect. Muscat had always brushed aside the allegations, but matters came to a head when Caruana Galizia, the Malta Independent columnist, published one allegation after the other detailing money transfers from the Azerbaijani first family to an account supposedly held in the name of Michelle Muscat – whom she claimed is the beneficial owner of Egrant. The proof, she claimed, was a declaration of trust – a document provided by auditors Nexia BT to Pilatus Bank showing Muscat as the UBO of Egrant – that was removed from a safe inside the Whitehall Mansions offices of the bank in March 2016. As was customary of Caruana Galizia's style, the story was never delivered as a plat principal but in the form of degustation menu, the sums of the part providing the en- joyment for those willing to join the dots for themselves. The in- formation trickled out in bits and pieces, the narrative beefed up as events unfolded. At the time the news broke, Jo- seph Muscat was riding high on opinions polls despite the Panama affair, which despite the scandalous revelation that embroiled Mizzi and Schembri, seemed to have left him unscathed, and Busuttil, flail- ing. Caruana Galizia's bombshell promised to finally answer a mys- tery on that scandal, why Muscat had retained his two close allies. She had claimed that the declara- tion of trust had been "scanned and uploaded to the cloud" but she only reproduced the text of the alleged document and then refused to tes- tify in the magisterial inquiry inves- tigating the allegations. When she finally made her way to the court to speak to the inquiring magistrate, as did the Russian whistleblower Maria Efimova – who claimed she had seen the document when she worked at Pilatus Bank – no men- The Chairman, Board Members, Management and Staff at the Environment and Resources Authority wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas and a Prosperous New Year The Authority would like to notify its clients and the public that its offices will be closed from the 22nd December 2017 until the 1st January 2018, both days included. Documents may still be submitted during the shutdown period and acknowledgments will be mailed out after the 2nd January 2018. The Authority will still be rendering the following services from its offices at Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa during its shutdown: CITES OFFICE: Friday 22nd December, Wednesday 27th December and Friday 29th December 2017 from 10 am until 12 noon. In case of perishable goods, live specimens, pharmaceuticals and customs inspections applicants can call 24 hours in advance on 2292 3500 and select Option 1. Clearances for emergency movements of animals and plants, including from the EU: Clients are to inform on phone number 2292 3500 and select Option 2, and to email relevant transport details on ceu.nature@era.org.mt well in advance, including: flight/ vessel number and departure point; place and time of landing; and importer's details. PAYMENTS FOR ANNEX VII: Friday 22nd December, Wednesday 27th December and Friday 29th December 2017 from 9 am until 12 noon. WASTE SHIPMENTS (MOVEMENT ONLY): Wednesday 27th December and Friday 29th December 2017 from 9 am until 12 noon. The Authority can be contacted for emergency cases on telephone number: 2292 3500 and select Option 2, between 6 am and 11 pm throughout this period. Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa The Chairman, Board Members, Management and Staff at the Environment and Resources Authority wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas The Chairman, Board Members, Management and Staff at the Environment and Resources Authority wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas era.org.mt Christmas specials • The 'story' of the year Egrant: how Caruana Galizia pushed Muscat into an early election A mysterious Panama company whose ownership remained unknown but mentioned by Nexia partner Karl Cini in the Panama Papers, resurfaced 12 months later with Daphne Caruana Galizia claiming it belonged to Joseph Muscat's wife. That claim pushed the Prime Minister into early elections MATTHEW VELLA Panamapants: in 2017, a new question mark about an FIAU report that suggests, but not proves, a link between a Dubai company and Konrad Mizzi's (pictured) and Keith Schembri's Panama companies