Dozens of representatives from various companies have gone to the courts in Valletta to testify in the case regarding the allegations of kickbacks from the sale of citizenship by the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Nexia BT Director Brian Tonna. 

The hearing, presided by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, is not open to the public or the press. The inquiry was launched after a previous court had ruled that there was sufficient grounds for an investigation to be launched. It was Magistrate Aaron Bugeja who gave this ruling, the same magistrate that is now conducting a separate inquiry into offshore companies in Panama, in particular the Egrant company. 

Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi were named in the Panama Papers leak back in February 2016. The two were confirmed to have opened companies in Panama. As the election date drew closer, outgoing leader of the Oppostion Simon Busuttil had also claimed he had evidence that Keith Schembri and Brian Tonna received kick backs from the sale of passports, a controversial programme launched earlier in the last legislature.

The allegations led to several inquiries. None of them have so far been concluded.