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Edward Snowden: 'Protests in Malta are huge'

April 11, 2016, 11:23 am
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Edward Snowden, the American computer professional who leaked classified information from the American National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 has commented on the anti-corruption protest held by the PN yesterday, saying it was 'huge'. Mr Snowden retweeted pictures first tweeted by Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola. Mr Snoweden has been variously described as a whistleblower and a traitor for leaking the American secrets, particularly about government surveillance programs. He fled to Russia where he has avoided US efforts to prosecute him. 
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Updated - Panama leaks: 'I would have resigned' - Evarist Bartolo

April 12, 2016, 3:54 am
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Updated - Adds new Evarist Bartolo comment on Facebook below - "If he had given me that piece of advice, I would have resigned," Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this morning when asked about MEP and former PL leader's Alfred Sant's calls for Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi to step aside.  Dr Sant yesterday used a Facebook post to urge Dr Mizzi to step down in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.  He insists he is innocent and has submitted himself to an audit. "The honourable thing to be done as soon as possible would be for Minister Konrad Mizzi to resign," Dr Sant wrote. Asked for his reaction today, Mr Bartolo was unequivocal and told the Times of Malta that he would have followed Dr Sant’s advice. “What I certainly would not have done is touched a country like Panama,” he said. Mr Bartolo said this did not seem to be an issue of illegality. But ordinary people paid taxes and were right to question why some were seeking to do otherwise. “The small person who works, and even those with more wealth, we expect them to pay taxes, and they rightly turn to us and say: ‘excuse me, but the Romans had a proverb, there are laws for gods and laws for animals, are we animals?’,”...
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Panama Papers: Businessman named in leaks linked to PM aide

April 11, 2016, 10:00 pm
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A Maltese businessman whose name appears in the Panama Papers leaks had business connections with the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, the Times of Malta has found. Pierre Sladden, who, say the latest revelations, last November assigned an invoice of almost $1 million to a British Virgin Islands company, is involved in another two companies with Mr Schembri. Research by this newspaper shows Mr Sladden sits on the board of directors of Cinebiss Ltd together with Mr Schembri’s father, Alfio. Malta Financial Services Au-thority documents show that while Mr Schembri personally owns half the company’s shares, the other half belong to Spira Trading Ltd, owned by the Sladden family and former film commissioner Oliver Mallia. Sources said the company was involved in the film industry and had been set up in 2007. Mr Sladden, who owns a company called Redmap Construction Ltd, is also involved in a film company with the Schembris – Grigal Films Ltd. In this company, formed in 2012 and now in dissolution, Mr Sladden is a director, together with Phyllis Muscat, who, until recently, served as head of the CHOGM task force appointed by the Prime Minister and Mr Schembri...
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PBS denies allegations as PN hits out at lack of coverage over Mizzi resignation calls

April 13, 2016, 2:07 am
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The Nationalist Party this morning filed an official complaint against PBS for its failure to report multiple calls for Energy Ministry Konrad Mizzi’s resignation by members of the Labour Party. On Monday, former Labour prime minister Alfred Sant called for Dr Mizzi’s resignation in the wake of the Panama papers scandal. Education minister Evarist Bartolo echoed this call yesterday, but the PN said neither of these calls received coverage by PBS. Addressing a press conference, PN spokesman for civil rights Clyde Puli said PBS seems to be more interested in covering the government’s tracks rather than impartial reporting. Media coverage of internal PL squabbles over the Panama scandal had not been reported by PBS, Mr Puli said. PN candidate Caroline Galea pointed out that the morning after the Panama Papers were published, a PBS discussion programme discussed the PN’s loan scheme rather than the scandal.  PBS DENIES HIDING INFORMATION In a reply, PBS denied it was hiding information to serve as a tool for the government saying its news and programmes had given the Panama Papers extensive coverage. Executive chairman Anton Attard said the station had its own standards and...
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Maltese chef wins the British Culinary Federation's top award

April 12, 2016, 12:56 pm
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Martin Carabott has been crowned the British Culinary Federation's Chef of the Year 2016. He joins an elite group of past winners and Michelin starred chefs that includes Simon Hulstone, Luke Tipping, Richard Turner and Adam Bennett. "Winning felt really good as I have worked very hard to be at my best on the final and it worked!" Mr Carabott told The Staff Canteen. His winning menu consisted of Dashi Risotto, Shellfish, Crispy Rice and Shiso, followed by Grilled Picanha of Aubrey Allen’s 21-day Dry Aged Beef, Green Peppercorn, Sweet Potato, Garlic and Purple Broccoli and Iced Jersey Cream with Orange Blossom, Blood Orange Meringue.Competition organiser and BCF President Peter Griffiths said: “With the opportunity to join the National Team squad as well as flying the flag for British produce at the NRA in Chicago, this competition continues to attract some of the industry’s best. The standards we have seen this year have been a credit to all concerned.” 
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Muscat says he is examining the facts of the Panama case - Busuttil says latest revelations are shocking

April 13, 2016, 8:56 am
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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that he would take decisions on the Panama case according to the facts and not what was said by Simon Busuttil. Reacting to comments made earlier by the opposition leader, the prime minister said that while Dr Busuttil a few weeks had claimed that there was corruption, he had today spoken of 'suspected' corruption. Dr Muscat said he was examining the facts and reactions to them. What was certain was that the country would continue to move forward and had their been uncertainty the Opposition would have agreed with the government's proposal for the confidence motion to be debated on Friday, not delayed to Monday. He was confident the government would emerge from the debate with a strong vote of confidence. As prime minister he would respect Parliament's decision and he hoped Dr Busuttil would too. In his press conference, Dr Busuttil said that the latest revelations on the Panama Papers were shocking and made the resignation or dismissal of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri even more urgent. He noted that it had been disclosed that the process for the opening of the Panama companies started days after the general election. And it was revealed...
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Konrad Mizzi re-states his position, says media reports are false and misleading

April 13, 2016, 7:29 am
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Embattled minister Konrad Mizzi said this afternoon that reports about his Panama company and New Zealand trust issued today were misleading and false, as they sought to convolute and confuse two separate and legitimate structures set up by different individuals. Dr Mizzi said he had always been truthful, consistent and provided correct facts on the establishment of a trust and related company. A statement issued on Dr Mizzi's behalf said: "The Trust whose beneficiaries are Dr Mizzi’s wife and children was established as a family trust. As stated from the very beginning, the structure was always intended as a family trust for assets and investments (as per previous statements). The prospective investments include the leveraging of the existing house in London and future investments which will seek to attain a reasonable return for the beneficiaries. "Dr Mizzi’s family is international and spans Malta to London to China. Moreover the contract of engagement of Dr Mizzi’s wife expires soon and Mrs Mizzi will be transitioning back into the private sector pursuing activities in various fields not associated to Malta. "As already stated, with regards to reports that there were...
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Alleged crimes mastermind blasts informant

April 13, 2016, 7:52 am
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A lawyer and former police inspector accused of masterminding several high profile hold-ups today hit out at a police constable/informant known as PC99 when he gave evidence in court. Dr David Gatt was testifying in the criminal case against himself, where he is accused of complicity in the attempted hold-up at the HSBC Malta headquarters in June 2010, the hold-up on a jeweller in Attard in December 2010, complicity in the attempted hold-up of a bank security van in Qormi in January 2011 and complicity in the successful hold-up at Balzan HSBC branch in November 2007, when some €1 million were stolen. He is also charged with complicity in holding people against their will and helping people wanted by the police including Fabio Psaila, Darren Debono and Vincent Muscat before they were arraigned over the attempted HSBC depot hold-up. Dr Gatt told Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona that he joined the police force in 1989 and was appointed inspector in 1993. In 2001, he was asked to resign by then Police Commissioner John Rizzo because he "wasn't suitable to serve with the police force". Dr Gatt had been accused of familiarity with well-known criminals after his name cropped up...
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Rumoured €1 billion offer for Malta-based Tipico

April 13, 2016, 1:10 am
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Sparks against doves are placed on the logo of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom AG in Koblenz. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Buyout group Centerbridge and Deutsche Telekom have joined forces to bid for Malta-based Tipico, industry sources said. The German telecoms company is reportedly seeking a minority stake in Tipico - Germany's largest private sports betting group - as it seeks to expand revenue streams outside its traditional business, while Centerbridge would purchase the majority. The planned offer may value Tipico at about €1 billion or roughly nine times its expected core earnings, in line with the valuation of listed peers like GVC, the sources said. Buyout groups CVC and XIO as well as Czech lottery firm Sazka are also expected to submit an offer by a deadline next week, the sources added. Tipico and its owners as well as the potential bidders declined to comment. Efforts to obtain a comment from XIO proved futile. Tipico was founded by three students in the 1990s. Within a few years, it became a leading European betting provider with brick and mortar locations, later adding an online presence. Tipico has been licensed for betting and online casino operations in Malta since 2004 but also has branches in Germany, Austria, Croatia, Gibraltar and Colombia. It has over 5,000 employees, 200 of...
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Keith Schembri: Revelations 'burst the PN bubble,' show no bribery or corruption

April 13, 2016, 7:05 am
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Keith Schembri, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said today that the latest revelations about the Panama papers showed that there had been no bribery or corruption and had thus burst the PN's bubble. “There is no mention of Azerbaijan or any other contract related to the government of Malta,” a statement issued on his behalf said. It added that the Australian Financial Review's revelations confirmed that the millions (of euro) which Simon Busuttil had spoken about did not exist, “so much so that the international banks did not open the bank accounts.” Mr Schembri said he had always been active in business, but that upon taking up his post at the Office of the Prime Minister he handed on the management of his companies while remaining a shareholder. Like every father, he said, he acted in a way to ensure that his children enjoyed a better life than him. That this genuine sentiment was being used for partisan interests showed the depths to which politics had descended to. Mr Schembri said that on March 14 last year he engaged Nexia BT, who were the auditors of his Kasco Group for 20 years, to set up a trust where he could consolidate his assets and commercial interests,...
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Paola Square embellishment project grinds to a halt

April 12, 2016, 11:13 pm
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Part of the Paola Square was hoarded off some weeks ago, but works have ground to a halt. Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Works on the Paola Square embellishment project, which started in February, have ground to a halt, raising concerns the prime site could be an eyesore for months. Announced in April last year, the €3 million project is being piloted by the Consultative Council for the South, headed by Labour MP Silvio Parnis, and falls under the remit of the Civil Rights Ministry. Though no precise time frame was given, the government pledged to complete the project by the end of this legislature, in 2018. Residents and shopowners who spoke with this newspaper lamented that the initial momentum had fizzled out. “After uprooting the trees in the lower half of the square and removing the paving, the area was hoarded off. Since then, works have stalled, with no workers seen on site for a number of weeks,” people on site told the Times of Malta. Commending the much-needed facelift to the square in the southern part of the island, they vented their frustration about the slow pace of the works. A spokesman for the Civil Rights Ministry told this newspaper the project had commenced with preparatory work involving the uprooting of trees. He pointed out that this operation was carried out in line with...
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Ryanair to overhaul checked-in baggage fees

April 12, 2016, 8:09 am
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Ryanair has announced plans to simplify its baggage fees - but the move means some prices may rise by up to 50 per cent. Michael O'Leary, chief executive of the Dublin-based carrier, said the number of booking options for bags will be slashed from 108 to just six. The no-frills airline currently charges different fees for each checked-in bag depending on whether it weighs up to 15kg or 20kg, whether it is the passenger's first or second bag, and whether the flight is in high or low season. Mr O'Leary said a flat fee of "probably £30 [€37]" will be introduced for bags. This would represent a 50 per cent increase on the exiting £20 [€25] online price of checking in a 15kg bag during the low season. It currently costs £40 [€50] to put a 20kg case in the hold during the high season. The "vast majority" of passengers who check bags in do so in the high season, meaning they will pay a lower price, Mr O'Leary said. He told reporters that the proportion of travellers checking in bags rises to 30-35 per cent during the summer and falls to as low as 5 per cent in November. The Ryanair boss denied that the change in policy was an acknowledgement that the airline has previously unfairly...
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PN reacts as Bartolo hits out at MFSA chairman and the PN loans scheme

April 12, 2016, 10:20 am
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Education Minister Evarist Bartolo this evening hit out over 'hypocrisy and double standards' over the Panama controversy and said the same level of concern had not been raised over the PN's loan scheme and the activities of the chairman of the MFSA, who, he said, is involved in a company in the Cayman Islands. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Bartolo said many had praised him for his comments about Konrad Mizzi.   But, he recalled, in the past he had raised questions about how the chairman of the MFSA, Joe Bannister, had partners with links in the Cayman Islands. But no fuss was raised at the time. It was a case of double standards and hypocrisy to accuse someone of opening a secret moneybox in Panama, while at the same time, the PN introduced a scheme of secret donations through its cedoli loans scheme. The MFSA should investigate this, but he feared it would let it pass like it had allowed other abuse. There should have been a proper prospectus about what would happen to the funds which the people handed the PN.  That was what one expected in terms of financial legislation, including the balance sheet of the entity collecting the funds. Why had the PN opted for a system of money...
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Godfrey Farrugia third PL exponent to suggest Konrad Mizzi should resign

April 12, 2016, 10:14 pm
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Godfrey Farrugia was the third high-profile Labour Party exponent in the past two days to suggest that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi should resign. The Labour Party Whip told this newspaper yesterday that if he were in Dr Mizzi’s position, he would have stepped down. “Let me speak for myself. As a citizen I have always lived by principles, morals and ethics, and I cherish them. As an MP, I represent the people, and so I cherish them even more. “If I were in Minister Konrad Mizzi’s position, I would resign,” he said. Former Labour leader Alfred Sant on Monday also said Dr Mizzi should resign. During the Labour Party general conference last week, Dr Farrugia told party delegates everyone in the party was dispensable except Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The Whip joined Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, who earlier in the day said he too would have resigned had he received the advice that Dr Mizzi was given by Dr Sant. The former Labour leader, now an MEP, called on the Energy Minister to leave in the wake of the Panama Papers controversy, insisting it was unfair to burden the Prime Minister with a decision that should have been clear from the outset. Asked for his reaction, Mr...
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Panama Papers: Six banks were approached on Mizzi and Schembri's behalf

April 12, 2016, 11:28 pm
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The Australian Financial Review website has published more revelations on the Panama Papers, saying today that a Malta advisory firm told Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca last October that two senior figures in the Maltese government (Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri) would use Panama companies to hold shares in recycling and remote gaming companies. It said fresh records show that Mossack Fonseca approached six more banks about opening an account for Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri’s companies, which were to hold investments that they said were "commercially sensitive". (To date only efforts to open accounts in Panama and Dubai were known) Mr Schembri on Sunday lashed out at  "absolutely baseless" reports and said his Panama company, Tillgate Inc was "intended solely for estate planning". Dr Mizzi said in a public statement last week that his New Zealand trust was set up for family reasons, and that he had told the prime minister of his intention to have a bank account to receive rent payments on his London property. But, the Australian Financial Review says, the Fonseca documents show a more diverse investment strategy. In May...
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Rapper Wiz Khalifa to perform at Isle of MTV

April 14, 2016, 2:13 am
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Multi-platinum selling rapper Wiz Khalifa will be taking part at this year’s Isle of MTV Malta, being held on June 28. The free live music event, which is now in its 10th consecutive year, is a partnership between MTV and the Malta Tourism Authority. Rolling Stone magazine’s 2006 ‘Artist to watch’, Khalifa shot to international fame in 2011 with his debut album Rolling Papers, which included hit singles Roll Up, No Sleep and Black and Yellow. The latter peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the Top 10 of the UK singles chart. Wiz’s biggest hit to date, the 2015 global smash See You Again, was the lead single from the Furious 7 soundtrack and a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, and hit the top spot on charts across 95 countries. The song broke several records including most streamed track in a single day on Spotify and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. His latest studio album is planned for release this summer. Isle of MTV Malta will be filmed and edited into a 60-minute special that will broadcast across 20 MTV channels throughout Europe. The show will also be...
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Kappara project: blessing in disguise for niche of Our Lady

April 14, 2016, 1:20 am
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Many have been dreading the Kappara project and the traffic chaos it will bring with it. One man, however, is waiting with anticipation dreaming of the spotlight this will bring to Madonna niche, which he put in place some 25 years ago. John Lauria recounts his story in the video above. He is pleased that the niche, which is currently undergoing restoration, would soon have a better and more beautiful place in the new project.
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TV presenter awarded €2,000 in damages over Illum story

April 14, 2016, 3:08 am
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Television presenter Stephanie Chircop was awarded €2,000 in damages after a court ruled that a story published in Illum was libellous. The story had said Ms Chircop was to be charged for the frame-up of her estranged partner. The case dates back to August 2012 when the newspaper claimed that Ms Chircop was to be charged in court over the filing of a false report in which she allegedly claimed that her former partner, Silvio Scerri, had approached a foreigner to kill boxer Scott Dixon with whom she had been in a relationship. The story had also said that Ms Chircop had been stopped from presenting a programme on One Television in the wake of her alleged arrest by the police over this case. She subsequently joined Net Television. The presenter was due to be arraigned in court “in the coming days” where she would face a “long list” of charges related to criminal conspiracy, the story said. In its decision, the court, presided by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, noted that the story was based on some facts which had been corroborated during proceedings. However, it noted that journalist Karl Stagno Navarro, who had penned the article, had reached the wrong conclusions which could...
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Boy not guilty of causing friend's death in freak accident

April 14, 2016, 4:21 am
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A boy whose name cannot be published by court order has been acquitted of causing the involuntary homicide of his 14-year old friend in a freak accidentat ix-Xatt l-Aħmar in the limits of Għajnsielem last summer. The accused had jumped into the sea and landed on top of his friend James Xuereb, from Għajnsielem, also 14. Xuereb, who had suffered severe back injuries, had died in hospital. In his decision, Magistrate Joe Mifsud cited article 37 of the criminal code, which says that a minor is exempt from criminal responsibility for every act committed without bad intentions. The Gozo Juvenile Court said it did not doubt that the accused had not acted “with the consciousness of the wrongful and unlawful character of his deed”. It also noted that the victim’s version of events had not been presented during proceedings as the police had not questioned him during the 66-days he spend in recovery at hospital before passing away. The court recommended that warning signs should be installed at the site of the incident so that bathers would exert prudence to avoid a similar incidents. The court also pointed out that the police inspector was only alerted about the incident two weeks after...
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Updated - Charles Mangion defends MFSA chairman after Evarist Bartolo attack

April 13, 2016, 9:45 am
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Labour MP Charles Mangion leapt to the defence of MFSA chairman Joe Bannister today after criticism made yesterday by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo. Mr Bartolo had alleged that Prof Bannister had funds in a company in the Cayman Islands and was partner with an investor who was found guilty of tax evasion. He said he had no confidence in Prof Bannister and questioned how the regulator of the Maltese financial services could be involved in such matters. But Dr Mangion, speaking in Parliament today, said these allegations had also been raised five years ago. They were investigated and then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had then spoken to Joseph Muscat to explain what the situation was. As a result, Prof Bannister was retained in his post by the Labour government. Dr Mangion said the financial services sector had benefited greatly from the bi-partisan support it had enjoyed since 1995 and it was important to preserve this situation. Safeguarding the reputation of the financial services industry included those running it, and he could say that ever since Prof Bannister took over as MFSA chairman, the authority had gone from strength to strength. One therefore had to be careful...
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