A political appointee to Malta’s Shanghai consulate has been charged in a Maltese court, Sunday afternoon, after a police raid in his home that found some €500,000 in cash.

Aldo Cutajar, brother of the Maltese civil service chief Mario Cutajar, was charged with money laundering.

The police told the court that some €500,000 in cash had been found during a raid on his home on Saturday and there were between $300,000 and $400,000 in an account in his name in Dubai.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli turned down a request for bail.

Cutajar was appointed consul to Shanghai in March 2018, succeeding Sai Mizzi, the wife of former minister Konrad Mizzi.

 

CSN calls for inquiry

Civil Society Network has called for an inquiry into the Aldo Cutajar’s employment.

Cutajar is the same person who was incarcerated for misappropriating public funds and was interdicted by the Court from ever being employed with the civil service again, it said.

Since Cutajar's brother is the head of the civil service, the inquiry should be public, independent and headed by retired judges, it said.

"Therefore, Mario Cutajar and Carmelo Abela, who was the minister responsible for Aldo Cutajar, should step aside temporarily or be suspended until the inquiry finds no wrongdoing on their part."