PN Leader Simon Busuttil this evening published a number of FIAU reports, related to the allegations he has made involving Keith Schembri, Adrian Hillman and Pilatus Bank.
The documents were uploaded online on the Nationalist Party’s news website as the two leaders of the major parties went head to head in a very heated Xarabank debate, with just one week left before the 2017 general elections.
Dr Busuttil started off by mentioning the report published by The Malta Independent this evening, stating that another FIAU report shows that “there are ties between the gas tanker, Minister Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.” This means, he said, “that they put the tanker in Marsaxlokk, with all the risk that came with it to the surrounding areas, and now the FIAU is saying that they are taking money from it as well.”
On the Egrant allegations, he said that there is no doubt they are true. “There is a whistleblower, an FIAU report backing up the whistleblower, and a PM who lied.”
Asked whether he would resign if he was found to be lying, he said: “I would resign if I had a secret Panama company, if I let a minister or my Chief of Staff have such a company.”
The Prime Minister was asked about comment yesterday regarding Magistrate Aaron Bugeja. “What do you mean by it? Also why didn’t you await the inquiry into Egrant to conclude?”
“I added that it was the PN Leader as well.
Muscat says that he has a "whistleblower" of his, who has said the latest alleged FIAU report is false.
“I was awaiting a lie. I again say if any whiff of truth against me or wife I resign straight away. Dr Busuttil jumped on a lie and won’t carry responsibility.”
PN Leader Simon Busuttil said he is amazed how the PM chose not to ask for Putin’s resignation as well. “You closed your eyes to corruption. You left two people who opened Panama companies in their position. You want us to come here and believe you. Today we know the third company belongs to someone so important that his name was passed over skype. Nobody believes you. You are seeing how you can throw blame on others for things you have done. On 3 June, one needs to again gather our country’s name.”
The PM said he always works for the country, yet the PN Leader works against Malta. He promised that no matter what position he will hold, he will back up Malta.
Dr Busuttil then held up an FIAU report, and read an extract from it. “It has been determined sufficient information is available to conclude a reasonable suspicion of money laundering subsists in this case.” Why did you leave Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi in their positions?” Dr Busuttil asked.
The PM said that the PN Leader would drop to any level. Dr Muscat said that Dr Busuttil went with that report to the magistrate looking into the Egrant allegations to waste a week’s worth of time. He said seeing an FIAU report is illegal. “Keith Schembri said he would resign if the allegations are true.”
The PM then accused Dr Simon Busuttil of taking commission.
“You take commissions. When you became PN Deputy Leader, there was a case which took 9 years in court. When you were promoted, the clients you represented went to Cabinet and were paid €5 million out of court. Were you paid for that?”
Dr Busuttil then said that the PM, to defend himself, needs to go back five years to a time when he was involved in a case as a lawyer to dirty his name. Rejecting the claim, he also questioned why he would have a case before the courts for nine years if he was going to play dirty anyway.
Turning back to the FIAU report, Dr Busuttil said that the PM cannot say that if proof is found against Keith Schembri then Keith Schembri will resign. “This is proof,” he said holding up the inquiry report.
Dr Busuttil said he is publishing the FIAU report regarding the €650,000 payments to Adrian Hillman. “I will also publish receipts showing transfer of funds to Adrian Hillman.”
The PM said that Dr Busuttil is referring to commercial transactions before Keith Schembri was his Chief of Staff. “How false he is.” The Times investigation found nothing wrong, and they came to an amicable solution” he said.
Turning back to the accusations about Busuttil, Dr Muscat said that the pressure for the €5 million was made just a month before the 2013 elections.
Dr Busuttil said that as a lawyer, he took the PN government to court for 9 years. “If what he alleges was true, I would have immediately gone to the politicians and arranged something, not taken them to court for nine years.”
The Prime Minister later alleged that PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco has a company in Cyprus, to which that PN Leader later in the debate said that Dr de Marco denied these allegations. “Would you resign if I publish the evidence, will you make him resign?,” the Prime Minister asked. Dr Busuttil did not answer this. Dr Muscat said that he will publish the evidence.
The Prime Minister later again spoke about the Egrant allegations: “I went to a magistrate, not like you, when you ordered fake invoices you didn’t want to be investigated, not like you who laundered money through the Cedoli Scheme. I went to a magistrate to investigate the allegations against me. It is such a huge lie that I am comfortable saying I will resign if there is any truth to it. Everything you have done is built on a lie.”
“I don’t want to speak about negativity, but on what affects the people directly, our proposals, regarding our economic competence. We have again confirmed that Malta has a surplus. Dr Busuttil is trying to say we will lose a bailout. Nobody believes you. You said we would have a bailout. You said we can’t close the Marsa station, we did, we reduced taxes. People have two plans, one which is clear of this government, one built on confusion of this government.”
Dr Busuttil also spoke about Egrant. “We are going to an election, and the Prime Minister is under a criminal investigation. It is a fact. If he was so convinced that he is innocent, why not resign till the inquiry concludes, and then run as an innocent person. As he is not innocent. Why did he only give 5 weeks for an election, to ensure that the result doesn’t come out before the report. I am not afraid of the report Dr Muscat, you are.”
Turning to the magisterial inquiries regarding Keith Schembri, Dr Muscat stressed that a magistrate gathering evidence does not mean that it is a criminal investigation.
The Prime Minister then turned his guns on the other PN Deputy Leader, Beppe Fenech Adami and the CapitalOne investigation.
“There was part of the report that was sealed. I saw that report. Dr Fenech Adami is being investigated for money laundering.”
Dr Busuttil said that three Judges were on the inquiry board into Beppe Fenech Adami, yet the Prime Minister did nothing on Panama. “The Judges found nothing on Beppe Fenech Adami.”
The Prime Minister stressed that part of the report is sealed. “I sent it for an investigation. There is an investigation on Beppe Fenech Adami in relation to money laundering,” he reiterated.
Dr Muscat again said that the choice in the election is one between a strong government with clear proposals, or one with proposals which are all over the place.
FIAU report on Keith Schembri and passports
FIAU report on Pilatus Bank
FIAU report Keith Schembri and Adrian Hillman
Documents Keith Schembri Adrian Hillman