Maria Efimova, the Pilatus Bank Whistleblower, has said that based on the information she knows, former bank chairman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad was really involved in the actions he is now charged with.

Ali Sadr had been arrested on charges that he evaded U.S. economic sanctions against Iran by sending more than $115 million from Venezuela through U.S. banks. Efimova was interviewed on the programme Newsline on RTK this morning.

She was asked how she sees the next few weeks play out, and was also asked about how the situation of Former Pilatus Bank Chairman Ali Sadr (now charged in the United States of America) affect's her situation. She said that with regards to her plans she can only plan days ahead at the moment as the situation is very unstable. She said she feels sorry for Ali Sadr as she now knows how hard it is to be in prison. "May God help him. But of course this had to be done, as based on the information I know, he was really involved in those actions he is now charged with."

Asked if she still feels in danger, she said that she does not feel in danger where she is now, "but if I were in Malta I am sure I will be in great danger," she told Newsline.

Asked about the threats to her father, she said that in June 2017 some private detective visited her father, "tried to threaten him asking questions about me".

She said that she traced the agency who hired those detectives in the city where her father lives, "and the trace led me to a Maltese politically exposed person". Asked if she meant an elected official, a politician she said: "yes, yes, he is a current official in the Maltese government."

Asked what her reasons to the Greek courts were in terms of her fearing to come back to Malta, she said that there are quite a few reasons. "First is the rule of law in Malta and the independence of the judicial system from government. Second was the threat my father received last year. Third was the brutal assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fourth was the situation in Malta and how easy it is to place a bomb in someone's car or apartment," she told Newsline.

Regarding her previous statements that persons from Pilatus Bank were present during her interrogation here in Malta in the past, she said that when she made the claim it would have been easily proved through camera footage at the police station. "I am sure in the police headquarters there are many cameras," she told Newsline.

Regarding Jonathan Ferris, she said she could not comment on his statements as she does not know his position.

Asked by Newsline as to why she does not come back to Malta and go through the Maltese justice system if she is innocent, she said "the proceedings against me began in August 2016 and I left in June 2017. I was in Malta for a year and was never given a chance to present evidence, which I have, and which is more than sufficient, to prove my innocence. In June 2017 my father received threats, and with me having two young children it was not possible for me to stay in Malta any longer. I had to leave to protect my family."

PN statement

In a statement the PN said that the Greek court decision shows hw Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is responsible to the damage to Malta’s reputation.

 “This is the first time a court in an EU country decided in this way on our country.”