A court this evening has issued an order to freeze all assets held by former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, his companies and his wife, and Brian Tonna, managing partner of Nexia BT, among others.

The order was issued by madam justice Edwina Grima following a request by the Attorney General.

The court decreed that there was reasonable suspicion that Schembri and Tonna are guilty of crime (money laundering) under clause 3 of cap 373 of the Laws of Malta. 

The Attorney General's request came days after the conclusion of a magisterial inquiry into whether the former prime minister's chief of staff, Keith Schembri, took a €100,000 kickback on passport sales.

The inquiry was based on a leaked FIAU report that raised suspicions about two €50,000 transactions that passed between the pair via Pilatus Bank.

The AG had banned publication of the inquiry report.

Among the list of people mentioned in the decree are also Schembri's parents, Tonna's wife and daughters and accountant Karl Cini.

There are also a list of companies that are owned or partly owned by Schembri and Tonna.