Maltese importer in custody in connection with multi-million fraud case A Maltese food importer, Mohan Bharwani, 57, residing in Sliema, was remanded in custody for declining to consent to his extradition to Sweden. He is sought in connection with a Europe-wide investigation into a €195 million VAT fraud case, where he is one of 14 individuals suspected of orchestrating the extensive fraud spanning 17 countries. The arrests resulted from an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich and Cologne, with support from Europol. Europol noted that among those arrested were some of the most prominent criminal actors in the realm of VAT fraud, individuals who have been on Europol’s radar in recent years. (Times of Malta)
Employment portfolio moved to Home Affairs
In an apparent response to the findings of the Sofia Inquiry, Prime Minister Robert Abela has divested Finance Minister Clyde Caruana from his responsibility for the Jobsplus agency. In a surprising move announced on Thursday, the agency has now been transferred to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri. This shift aims to enhance coordination with Identità concerning the importation of foreign workers. Byron Camilleri has been tasked with building on the “important work” started by Caruana on the national labour policy, a government statement said. (Maltatoday)
Degiorgios claim former PL ministers were involved in HSBC heist
Two convicted murderers, George and Alfred Degiorgio, have testified against five individuals, including former Labour ministers Chris Cardona and Carmelo Abela, alleging their involvement in the failed 2010 holdup of the HSBC Qormi head office. The hitmen appeared before Magistrate Rachel Montebello as part of the ongoing libel case filed by Carmelo Abela against ex-PN MP Jason Azzopardi. Azzopardi’s Facebook post in April 2021 linked Abela to the attempted armed robbery, also claiming he received €300,000 for his alleged role. Abela and Cardona have both staunchly denied any involvement in the incident. (The Malta Independent)
