These are the main news reported by the leading Maltese news portals.
Malta is classified in 50th place in the perception of corruption index which is carried out each year by Transparency International which investigates the corruption trends of 180 countries. The NGO said that around the world the outcry against corruption is growing with the least perception of corruption being registered in Denmark and New Zealand, where both countries obtained 87 out of 100 points. Source: TVM
A VAT department employee was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after the Appeals Court reconfirmed that she was guilty of money laundering and drug possession among other things. Source: MaltaToday
The government is looking into a €50,000 tender awarded to Keith Schembri’s paper company, Kasco Limited, just days before the former chief of staff was taken in for questioning by the police over the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder. In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the investigation was “too little, too late”. Education Minister Owen Bonnici should have seen that action was taken in relation to Mr Schembri when he was Justice Minister. Source: Times of Malta
While the new mechanism for the appointment of the Police Commissioner has the appearance of reducing the “totalitarian powers hitherto enjoyed by Prime Ministers” – which is a positive – the “bottom line remains exactly the same – he hires, he fires”, former European Court of Human Rights Judge Giovanni Bonello said. Source: The Malta Independent
It is unacceptable for the government to forge ahead with controversial projects while an appeal against them was still pending, Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo maintained. In an adjournment speech in this evening’s parliament sitting, Mr Vassallo spoke about the Central Link project meant to alleviate congestion in Attard, which will lead to the uprooting of hundreds of trees as well as the loss of farmland and a number of historic structures close to St Paul’s Chapel. Source: Newsbook
Foreign News Roundup
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