Saturday

9th Dec 2023

Malta's PM cleared of Panama Papers wrongdoing

  • Malta's PM has been cleared of any wrongdoing in Panama Paper case (Photo: PES Communications)

Malta's attorney general on Sunday (22 July) cleared prime minister Joseph Muscat of any wrongdoing over allegations he had benefitted from a secret offshore company.

The 15-month probe was launched following reports by journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, murdered last October, that Muscat's wife had owned a shell company known as Egrant set up by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Muscat on Sunday in a six-page statement said the inquiry did not uncover any evidence of corruption or money laundering from Azerbaijan through Pilatus Bank accounts.

He said it also exonerated similar claims against his wife, close aide Keith Schembri, tourism minister Konrad Mizzi, as well as former European commissioner for health, John Dalli.

"Not one of the allegations that were made involving my wife Michelle, myself, my family, or persons close to us were found to be true," he said.

The claims against Muscat's entourage were made in part by Pilatus bank employee Maria Efimova and then reported on by Caruana Galizia. Malta had last year issued arrest warrants for Efimova.

Muscat had maintained his innocence throughout, noting he would resign if an "ounce of truth" was found in the allegations. He had also last year in June called a snap election over the turmoil, which he won.

He said, quoting the report, that documents had been falsified and that the inquiry was unable to reconcile versions put forward by Efimova and Caruana Galizia.

Muscat now wants former opposition leader Simon Busuttil to "resign from every position he occupies both in Malta and abroad" for having backed the corruption claims.

Sven Giegold, a German Green MEP who was part of a European parliament corruption probe into Malta last December, said that while he was never convinced by Efimova's accusations, a long list of issues remain unanswered.

"Indeed it would be crucial to know who falsified the documents. However, this inquiry does not respond to the key questions of the EP's rule of law report on Malta," he said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, others in Malta's opposition party are shedding doubt on the report, with one MP noting a close coordination between of the timing of the statements issued by Muscat and the attorney general.

Another opposition MP said crucial evidence had also been lost when Pilatus chairman Seyed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad was filmed leaving at night with large suitcases shortly after Caruana Galizia had published her report.

But the inquiry, according to Muscat, says allegations that Hasheminejad was leaving with evidence had also been unfounded. Hasheminejad is facing criminal prosecution in the United States.

Caruana Galizia's son, Paul, on Twitter criticised those calling for Busuttil to resign for calling the investigation, but not for the resignations of Schembri or Mizzi.

Whistleblower fears for life as US arrests Malta bank chair

US authorities have arrested the chair of the Maltese-registered Pilatus Bank for tax evasion. The bank facilitated political corruption in Malta but its whistleblower is now facing jail in Malta and fears for her life.

Former Malta opposition leader fears for his life

Simon Busuttil spent 10 years as an MEP before returning to Malta to lead the opposition. He now fears for his life amid probes into high-level corruption in Malta's government.

EU passport sales create 'proud Maltese citizens'

Malta says its 'Golden Visas' scheme attracts families that want to become "proud Maltese citizens". Meanwhile the sales to Russian nationals, and others, have generated over €700m in revenue.

Opinion

Tusk's difficult in-tray on Poland's judicial independence

What is obvious is that PiS put in place a set of interlocking safeguards for itself which, even after their political defeat in Poland, will render it very difficult for the new government to restore the rule of law.

Opinion

Can Green Deal survive the 2024 European election?

Six months ahead of the EU elections, knocking an 'elitist' climate agenda is looking like a vote-winner to some. Saving the Green Deal and the EU's climate ambitions starts with listening to Europeans who are struggling to make ends meet.

Latest News

  1. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  2. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  3. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  4. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  5. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  6. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  7. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  8. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us