CONFIRMED: UAE provided all requested information to Maltese authorities

Data linked to the Dubai secret company 17 Black

“Today, I am in a position to confirm that the Maltese authorities have received all the requested information from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates. This information is crucial for the successful prosecutions related to all the corruption and money laundering that went through 17 Black, the secret company based in Dubai. I am informed that the last batch of requested information was sent last week, and therefore now the ball is in the court of the Maltese authorities to proceed with their investigations, in pursuit of justice.”

Member of the European Parliament David Casa made this statement following his crucial intervention to ensure that the Maltese authorities make a complete and official request for information, with all the necessary requirements. The information requested by the Maltese authorities from the Dubai authorities has been sent in batches, with the final batch being sent last week.

“I expect this information to be used by the Maltese authorities in their investigations on corruption and money laundering related to the Electrogas power station,” MEP Casa said. According to emails published by media outlets, 17 Black, owned by Electrogas shareholder Yorgen Fenech, was to funnel €5,000 a day to the secret Panama companies owned by the former Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Keith Schembri, and the former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.

“Last week we heard court testimony confirming details of the way Keith Schembri operated: by making millions from corruption, and then laundering that same money. Nobody doubts that what Keith Schembri did before leading Joseph Muscat’s office, he repeated and multiplied from public contracts, including the energy deal with Electrogas,” said David Casa, who forms part of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula.

The owner of 17 Black is currently being held in prison, accused of being the mastermind of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. According to several media reports, he has, on a number of occasions, claimed that Keith Schembri insisted on having Daphne Caruana Galizia murdered, and that he has passed on information related to the investigation. Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered whilst investigating 680,000 leaked documents on the deal led by Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi on behalf of the Maltese Government, and Yorgen Fenech on behalf of Electrogas.