Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi this evening confirmed that he has met Pilatus Bank owner Ali Sadr Hasheminejad. However, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna has not.
In parliamentary questions this evening, Nationalist Party MP Karol Aquilina asked Mizzi, Scicluna and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat the number of times they have met up with Ali Sadr Hasheminejad since 2013 and the reasons for the meetings.
Mizzi replied "as what happens with various companies that operate in Malta where there are corporate presentations, yes I have met the person concerned." He did not state the number of times the two met. "It is not possible to keep a record of all the persons with whom the Minister meets, as well as the details of every meeting," he added.
Despite being Finance Minister, Scicluna stated that he has not met Sadr.
Ali Sadr is currently on trial in America with charges that he evaded U.S. economic sanctions against Iran by sending more than $115 million from Venezuela through U.S. banks. He was arrested last March.
Moreover, replying to the same question, Muscat confirmed that he has previously met up with Sadr, replying that he has met twice since 2013. Muscat said the meetings were ones held 'regularly' by the Prime Minister for investors. Muscat also replied that it was not possible to keep a record of all those whom he met with and the details of each meeting.