2019 Malta political crisis: Difference between revisions

The Malta crisis 2019 is a political and institutional crisis within the Republic of Malta. Caused by the attack on the most prominent investigate journalist in the country in 2017, an interlaced network of politicans, business and elements organizied crime got obvers to the puplic.

The potential involved prime minister's chief of staff and the tourism minister resigned, and the economy minister briefly suspended himself in late November 2019. Continuing growing protests of civil society in Malta and increasing pressure of European Union forced Maltese government to reactions. On December 1, 2019 Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced to step back from power in January 2020, after weeks of civil protests and several evidences, that members of his staff are involved in the murder plot.

Daphne Caruana Galizia was described as "one-womean-Wikileaks"^[1] and the most important, visible and fearless journalists of the country. She ran a popular blog called Running Commentary, which investigated allegations of corruption and other criminal wrongdoing which Caruana alleged, ran into the highest levels of Maltese government. In a murder plot, she got killed in a car bomb attack to her Peugeot 108 on 16 October 2017.^[2]

Yorgen Fenech is a well-known figure in Malta. He has served as head of the Tumas business group and a director of energy company Electrogas. Fenech resigned from both positions in 2019.^[3]

He was identified in 2018 as being the owner of a Dubai-registered company, called 17 Black. The company was listed in the Panama Papers. Caruana Galizia had written about 17 Black eight months before her death, alleging the company had links to the Joseph Muscat's chief of staff Keith Schembri and to former energy minister Konrad Mizzi.^[4]

Keith Schembri was chief of staff of theMaltese government. He is said to be one of the most powerfull persons in Maltese politic. Schembri was the subject of Caruana Galizia's last blog post, minutes before she got killed. Caruana Galizia alleged he had benefited from secretive shell companies.^[5]

When he was arrested, the police investigation drew close to members of Joseph Muscat's government. Police released Schembri some days later, announcing he was no longer viewed as a person of interest. The family of Caruana sees Schembri as one of the most suspected persons in the murder plot.

Konrad Mizzi was tourism minister but stepped down, saying it was his duty to allow Mr Muscat's government to continue. Mizzi was earlier removed from his post as health and energy minister in 2016 after it emerged that he had set up a company in Panama, listed in the Panama Papers. He said, he had merely made arrangements for managing family assets and had done nothing wrong. In his health role he oversaw the part-privatisation of Malta's health service.^[6]

Melvin Theuma is a taxi-driver from Valletta. He is linked to criminal enterprises and was arrested in November 2019 in connection with a separate anti-money laundering investigation. Theuma offered police information about the 2017 murder in exchange for immunity from prosecution. He is discribed as a middel-man from the purchasers to the murders.^[7]

On 16 October 2017, the investigative journalist Caruana Galizia died in a car bomb attack close to her home,^[8][9] attracting widespread local and international reactions.^[10][11] In December 2017, three men were arrested in connection with the car bomb attack.^[12]

For Peter, the customs sniffer dog, On November 13, the spaniel sniffer dog Peter was screening passengers when he alerted his handlers of Malta custom to the smell of cash. Customs reportedly found €210,000 in the belongings of Melvin Theuma, preparing to board a flight to Istanbul. The economic crimes unit were called and a day later, the incident led to the arrest of Theuma. Under questioning by police, Theuma made the claim that he had acted as intermediary in the contract killing of journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. On 19  November 2019 the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced a deal with a star-witness (which later turns out to be Melvin Theuma). This person should provide comprehensive information about the murder case and other crimes, but he receives impunity.

On 20 November Fenech attempted to leave Malta on his private yacht, with the Armed Forces of Malta intercepting his boat and arresting him as a "Wperson of interest" in the Caruana Galizia murder enquiry.^[13] Maltese media alleged that Fenech was familiar with Melvin Theuma, a taxi driver with links to criminal enterprises who had been described in local media as a potential "middleman" in the murder.^{[citation needed]}

On 23 November 2019 offers Fenech himself as a witness. He promises informations about the murder case and other offenses, in exchange for impunity.^{[citation needed]}

On 25 November 2019 the Star witness Melvin Theuma was pardoned by President George Vella at the request of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.^{[citation needed]}

Fenech's defense tried to call the whole process into question. This was successfully - Fenech was released on 29 November 2019. The businessman was prejudiced in public, so his defence said, that he could not hope for a proper investigation and a fair trial. He argued that the second main suspect, Keith Schembri, had not been charged. Also he argued, that Schembri has built the star witness Melvin Theuma against Fenech and paid for it. In addition, the police inspector in charge of the case had a close connection to Schembri and was therefore biased.^{[citation needed]}

Prime Minister Muscat had set up a deal with a star witness Melvin Theuma, that heavily burdened Fenech. Medias said, Muscat wanted to protect his personal friend Keith Schembri.^[14]

On 30 November 2019 an indictment was filed against Fenech in Valletta court and was accused of complicity in the murder of Caruana Galizia, amongst other charges. Fenech pleaded not guilty.^[15] He has been back in jail since November 30, 2019.

Six days after the arrest of Fenech, Schembri resigned his government post on 26 November 2019, and was subsequently arrested by the police for questioning.^[16][17] Schembri was later released by police. ^[18]

The doctor Adrian Vella was also arrested on this date. Vella occur also in a number of companys registered or managed via Panama.^[19] He is said to have served as a secret messenger between Schembri and Fenech.^[20]

Yorgen Fenech, in his court statement, accused Schembri of being the masterming behind the Caruana Galizia murder.^[21] Schembri is also accused to have tried to influence Fenech in order to frame Chris Cardona as responsible for the murder of Caruana Galizia.^[22]

Yorgen Fenech is not pardoned, he does not receive the status of a witness. This is decided by the Maltese government in a long session in the night to 29 November 2019. The final decision lies with the president. Fenech is said to have paid the three hired killers 50,000 euros each. This is stated by the witness Melvin Theuma; he was granted impunity. Fenech stays since that in jail.^{[citation needed]}

Muscat announced his resignation on 1 December 2019 on television. But he still wants to hold office until 12 January. He informed the President of Malta, George Vella, that he would be resigning his duties. His decision was influenced by the investigation and the than obvers connections to his staff.^[23]

About 4000 Malteses blocked Premier Joseph Muscat to leave the parlaments building in Valletta on December 3, 2019, shouting "murder" to him. The opponent Nationalistic Party said to boykott any meeting of the parlament until Muscat stepped back. Several hunderet people from the Labour Party met for a demonstration against the anti-government demonstration.^[24]

An EU Parliament delegation announced to come to Mlata in early December 2019 to monitor the rule of law and to hold talks with government officials in Malta.

• The Daphne Project