Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi have been banned from travelling to the United States over their “involvement in significant corruption,” the State Department said.

Their immediate families are also ineligible for entry into the US.

“Today, the U.S. Department of State announces the public designation of former Maltese public officials Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri due to their involvement in significant corruption. In their official capacities as Minister of Energy and Conservation of Water and Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Mizzi and Schembri were involved in corrupt acts that included using their political influence and official power for their personal benefit. Specifically, there is credible information that Mizzi and Schembri were involved in a corrupt scheme that entailed the award of a government contract for the construction of a power plant and related services in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. Their actions undermined rule of law and the Maltese public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes,” the US Department of State said in a statement.

In addition to Mizzi and Schembri, the Department of State is designating Mizzi and Schembri’s immediate family members: Mizzi’s wife, Sai Mizzi Liang, and his two minor children; Schembri’s wife, Josette Schembri Vella, his daughter Juliana Schembri Vella, and his minor child.  This action renders Mizzi and Schembri, and each of these members of their immediate families, ineligible for entry into the United States.

“This designation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting the rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions in Malta.  The Department will continue to use authorities like this to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and globally,” the State Department said.

 

PN reaction

Reacting, the PN said this “unprecedented” development confirms that it had to be a country thousands of miles away to take action. It said Robert Abela wanted to continue defending the “corrupt” Electrogas deal and those involved in it.

The PN said there are no words hard enough to condemn Robert Abela, who prefers seeing the country suffer by trying to cover up for leading figures in the Labour government.

“Today we saw how right the PN and civil society groups were when they warned that Abela would not let the authorities function and take action against the impunity he created. Today we saw that corruption comes with a price – a price that will have to be paid by the people.”

It said that decision by the US government “shames” the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General, who are failing in their duties. This confirms why our country has been greylisted.