A court has declared that fines levied by the anti-money laundering watchdog are “completely illegal.” According to the ruling, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) fails to provide the necessary protections guaranteed by the country’s highest law and the European Convention. Mr. Justice Toni Abela declared that the administrative fines issued by the FIAU are punitive and quasi-criminal, necessitating issuance by a juridical body that ensures basic rights, including the right to be tried by an independent and autonomous tribunal. The judgment criticizes the illegality of these punishments, asserting that they lack sanctioning by any law, with the overarching principle being the supremacy of the law. (Times of Malta)
Constitutional Court says Yorgen Fenech’s rights not breached with asset freeze
Malta’s highest court has affirmed the rejection of Yorgen Fenech’s assertion of a fundamental rights breach related to the freezing of his assets. The comprehensive judgment, delivered by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti and judges Giannino Caruana Demajo and Anthony Ellul in the Constitutional Court, dismantles every aspect of Fenech’s appeal. This decision follows the initial dismissal of Fenech’s claim by Mr Justice Grazio Mercieca over a year ago. The court noted that the court of first instance had explained that the intention behind the order was legitimate in that it was aimed at preventing a person accused of a relevant crime from making use of money or property derived from criminal activity or deriving any other direct or indirect benefit from it. (Maltatoday)
Groups calls for inquiry into migrant tragedy
The SAR Malta Network has urged the launch of a public inquiry in response to the tragic incident where five individuals lost their lives during a rescue operation near Malta on Friday. In the course of a rescue mission conducted by the Armed Forces of Malta off the southern coast of the island, a boat carrying migrants capsized, resulting in the unfortunate demise of five people. Colonel Edric Zahra, the Deputy Commander of the AFM, conveyed to the media in a briefing outside the army’s base at Haywharf that, in addition to the fatalities, eight individuals were undergoing medical treatment, and 21 had been transported to a detention centre. (The Malta Independent)
