I have been instructed by International Trust Limited, Dr George Hyzler, Dr Simon Tortell and Dr Rodney Lee Berger, to refer to the article entitled “Online Betting Company Sportalnet Buys Casino di Venezia”, (TMIS, 1 January).

The article alleges that Sportalnet, “will be the new owners of the Casino di Venezia”, and is “effectively owned” by International Trust Ltd.

It is to be clarified that the sole object of International Trust Ltd is to act as a corporate trustee for the benefit of third parties as provided by the Trusts and Trustees Act, in terms of which the company is duly authorised.

Therefore any shares held by International Trust Ltd in Sportalnet are so held as corporate trustee for the benefit of third parties who are not the same shareholders as those of International Trust Ltd.

Consequently, the shareholders in International Trust Limited, namely former Nationalist Parliamentary Secretary and lawyer George Hyzler, and lawyers Simon Tortell and Rodney Lee Berger, have no direct and/or personal interest in the Casino’ di Venezia other than in the professional capacity described above.

Dr Michael Psaila