Update 1755h: Konrad Mizzi and Chris Cardona have submitted their resignation from cabinet. While Konrad Mizzi resigned outright, Chris Cardona suspended himself from his position as Minister and as Deputy leader of the Labour Party. Earlier Keith Schembri who resigned the post of Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister is being interrogated at the Police Depot in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
In the evening, the PN has again requested for today’s parliamentary sitting to discuss the national, constitutional crisis, Leader of the Opposition said, tonight, in parliament.
An altercation between Beppe Fenech Adami and Konrad Mizzi was exchanged with the former saying ” Had it not been for your machinations, she (Daphne Caruana Galizia) would still be alive” or words to that effect said our sources. The same sources said that the Prime Minister remained seated and impassive.
LovinMalta reported that Keith Schembri was one of the last people Yorgen Fenech called before he tried to flee Malta on his yacht last week. Sources said the call was not a short one and is now the subject of further investigation.
Newsbook reports that Yorgen Fenech first named Keith Schembri on Monday as news of the government pardon given to Melvin Theuma hit the headlines. Informed sources told Newsbook.com.mt that Yorgen Fenech told the police that Keith Schembri sent him a message telling him that “I’ll help you if you keep me out of it” (“Tikxifnix u ngħinek”). Alas, Fenech decided to out the corrupt dealings related to Electrogas and even the windfarms which Enemalta has built in Montenegro. Fenech spoke up also about the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Businessman Yorgen Fenech has been given police bail after the 48-hour time window for his arrest came to an end just after 3pm.
Earlier: The Caruana Galizia family has called for the prosecution of the PM’s former chief of staff Keith Schembri. Schembri was taken in for questioning Tuesday morning a few minutes before the official confirmation given by the Prime Minister himself.
The Caruana Galizia family said that “years after our wife and mother revealed Keith Schembri’s financial crimes, two years after her assassination, Schembri has resigned as the Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff. We now urge the Maltese authorities to immediately prosecute Schembri for his wide-ranging and long-running criminal activity.”
The family urged Europol to provide the required, ‘essential’ support to investigators, prosecutors and the magistrates who are attempting “to follow the money trail of the Malta-Azerbaijan money laundering network across jurisdictions, including especially the United Arab Emirates”.
Update: 0945h – Keith Schembri resigned from his role as Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
The news follows reports by Net News that sources have indicated that Yorgen Fenech, who is currently being interrogated by the police in connection with the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia is ready to provide information to the police which points towards the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister Keith Schembri.
Well informed sources told Newsbook.com.mt that Yorgen Fenech reacted strongly to the news that Melvin Theuma, the so-called middleman in the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia was pardoned by Government. According to Newsbook he started spilling beans at a faster rate than he has been doing so far. It is reliably understood that he mentioned more than one very highly placed person in politics. After Cardona, it seems that Keith Schembri, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister was next.
The businessman has argued that he was just another middleman in the chain leading to Ms Caruana Galizia’s murder. But sources told Times of Malta that he has so far failed to provide any evidence linking any particular individual to the assassination
The police continued to interrogate more people in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the police said in a statement. .
The newspaper L-Orizzont, in its front page is saying that the pardon to Fenech is still on the cards. On Monday, a conditional pardon was given to Melvyn Theuma, the person deemed as the middleman in the assassination of Caruana Galizia.
Net News also revealed that during the night, there was a long meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence between Muscat and Schembri.
According to Lovin Malta police received fresh information allegedly linking Keith Schembri to a series of corruption scandals.
The latest developments in Malta are also attracting the attention of foreign media. Politico reports that Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is under intense pressure after the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia revealed close connections between suspects in the case and his top team.
In an article entitled A Letter from Malta, Raphael Vassallo adds Muscat remains in position (for now). He has said his “role right now is to make sure the country has stable leadership,” adding: “I would definitely resign if there is any sort of association between myself and the murder.” And while his popular appeal may have been dented, he retains considerable influence over the party grassroots. “But with suspicion mounting that Muscat was, at minimum, aware of corruption, his days of unassailable power appear to be numbered”, adds Vassallo.
In a report on The Guardian entitled Maltese PM’s aide and minister quit amid turmoil over journalist’s murder, refers to the latest developments in Malta and quoting Manfred Weber, the head of the centre-right EPP grouping in the European parliament, saying that the recent events as “very worrisome”, adding that “there are lot of additional questions on the table for the prime minster of Malta,” he said, adding that Muscat had to take political responsibility with regard to the principle of an independent investigation and the rule of law.
The BBC, in a report entitiled Malta Caruana murder: Resignations spark government crisis also provided a report of the events that unfolded in Malta on Tuesday, hihglighting comments by Malta’s business community which said that the unfolding inquiry had revealed the extent of damage caused to the country. It referred to a statement by the chamber of commerce said it had become clear “the extent to which criminal activity had infiltrated the circles of power, and operated unperturbed for years”.
Euronews led with the resignation of Schembri in their story entitled “Malta government chief of staff Schembri has resigned – PM Muscat”, referring to the comments given by the Prime Minister to the press on Tuesday. “What is happening now, and what happened last week is an operation that is hopefully solving the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder,” Muscat told Reuters on Tuesday. “Whatever people might say, there is no impunity in this country.”
The Telegraph, in a report entitled “Ministers and chief of staff step aside in Malta as investigation into murder of journalist deepens” says that Malta was plunged into political turmoil on Tuesday after three politicians close to the prime minister fell on their swords as the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia gained pace.
The Financial Times reports that the resignations that took place on Tuesday raise pressure on prime minister Joseph Muscat on a report entitled “Top Malta officials quit in Caruana Galizia murder case fallout.”The report refers to the news about Longstanding questions over Mr Schembri and Mr Mizzi intensified after the detention and later release on police bail last week of Yorgen Fenech, a magnate to whom the pair allegedly had financial ties.
The Mail reports that Malta PM’s chief of staff quits amid investigation into anti-corruption journalist’s murder after main suspect names him during questioning. The report adds that sources revealed Keith Schembri had been summoned by police after he was mentioned by the tycoon Yorgen Fenech, who was hauled off his yacht in St Julian’s last week.
The Bankog Times reports the story in a report entitled “Two top Malta politicians quit as journalist murder probe deepens”.
The Independent reports “Malta journalist murder: Two senior government officials resign after businessman arrested on yacht”.
The Washington Post reports Malta PM chief of staff quits amid probe on reporter murder.
Tuesday’s Malta’s newspapers reports on the subject follows
The Independent leads with a government statement announcing that the suspected middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder has been granted a presidential pardon in exchange of information on the case.
The Times reports that the alleged middleman has provided sufficient information to the police to support his claims. The pardon was given on a series of conditions that include his full cooperation in the investigation.
L-Orizzont reveals that the government is considering offering a presidential pardon to 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech about the Caruana Galizia murder, following the pardon granted to suspected middleman Melvin Theuma.
In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Adrian Delia who said that the country deserves better than a government that ‘will not listen to the people’. Delia was speaking after a request for an urgent parliamentary debate on the Caruana Galizia case was refused by government.
The Times reports that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat received the unanimous backing of his parliamentary group in an internal vote of confidence. The paper says that MPs argued for the removal of Minister Konrad Mizzi and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri.
The Independent says that the Prime Minister requested the vote of confidence in himself by the Labour Party parliamentary group during a meeting at his office on Monday. The secret vote expressed unanimous confidence in the PL Leader.
L-Orizzont says that the Labour Party parliamentary group held a meeting to discuss the latest developments in the Caruana Galizia investigation. The paper says that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat requested a secret vote of confidence at the end of the session.
In-Nazzjon reports that a protest was held outside parliament on Monday by civil society groups. The paper says that hundreds of people braved the weather demanding the removal of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.
Meanwhile, Tumas Group has disassociated itself from its former CEO Yorgen Fenech who was arrested in connection with the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder.
The statement was signed by group chairman and chief executive officer, Raymond Fenech, who is Yorgen’s uncle.
Yorgen Fenech resigned all company directorships on 12 November but the paperwork was filed with the Malta Business Registry seven days later, less than 24 hours before he was arrested on his yacht trying to leave Malta.
