Ray Fenech and Franco Fenech, Yorgen Fenech's uncle and brother, have not yet been spoken to by the police, sources told The Malta Independent, however the investigation is still open.

Ray Fenech, the uncle, was first mentioned in court by the middleman, Melvin Theuma in relation to the fact that Theuma thought the information which would be uncovered by Caruana Galizia, which led to the request for her murder, was related to Ray Fenech.

Ray Fenech was again mentioned by Inspector Keith Arnaud during his testimony in court. He said that on Yorgen Fenech's phone the police found a conversation with his uncle who had sent him a link of a story saying that the Prime Minister might give immunity to Theuma.

In this conversation, Yorgen Fenech told his uncle that he wanted to leave for France, with Ray Fenech telling him not to leave from the airport but to use his boat. Ray Fenech also told Yorgen Fenech not use his credit cards.

Yorgen Fenech also asked his uncle to take care of his children in this conversation, Arnaud had said in court. Yorgen Fenech also mentioned to his uncle that a journalist told him that there were rumours that police were on his track. It was clear that Yorgen Fenech was trying to escape without the police knowing, Arnaud had said in court.

Sources said that the message actually mentioned an "Ivan from Times". The following day Ivan Camilleri, a journalist from the Times of Malta, was sacked from the newsroom. Camilleri has denied passing on information to Fenech and said he will fight his "unfair dismissal" from the newspaper.

Sources told this newsroom that it was not clear at this point whether Ray Fenech knew about Yorgen Fenech's impending arrest. It was, however, clear that Ray Fenech knew of some wrongdoing on Yorgen Fenech's part. The law, however, does not state that knowledge of a crime is a crime in itself.

Whilst Ray Fenech has not yet been spoken to by the police, the investigations are still open, sources said. Ray Fenech cannot be arrested on the fact that he knew of any wrongdoing on Yorgen Fenech's part, but he could possibly be spoken to on aiding his escape. 

No concrete proof Ray Fenech was part of Yorgen Fenech's plan to escape

Explanations of why the conversation took place could easily be put forward, the sources explained, with Yorgen Fenech's defence team having already said in court that the boat Yorgen Fenech used in his failed escape was planned to leave for maintenance.

There is not enough concrete proof, at this point, that Ray Fenech advised his nephew to plan the escape and it is difficult to prove he did so, sources told this newsroom.

With regards to the brother, Franco Fenech, there are no chats offering evidence that he helped Yorgen Fenech plan his escape. It was mentioned in court during Arnaud's testimony however, that Adrian Vella - Yorgen Fenech's doctor - told the police that whilst Yorgen Fenech was at Vella's farmhouse in Gozo, Franco Fenech paid him a visit.

The brothers allegedly discussed how Yorgen Fenech was to leave Malta, mentioning a boat to Tunis and then to Dubai. Franco Fenech also fantasised about exaggerated methods of escape, like private jets, Arnaud had said.

Since Franco Fenech's involvement was only based on what Vella said, there is no concrete proof of Franco Fenech helping his brother plan his escape, sources said. Furthermore, the law is clear that there is no crime committed if there is only intent - Franco Fenech's alleged intent to help his brother plan the escape.

Franco Fenech has not yet been spoken to by the police but the investigation is still open.

Ray and Franco Fenech not a priority in the investigation

Sources said that Ray and Franco Fenech's alleged involvement in Yorgen Fenech's plan to escape is not a priority in the investigation at the moment.