“Investigate FIAU’s handling of 17 Black information” David Casa tells MONEYVAL

07.09.2018 13:04

“Investigate FIAU’s handling of 17 Black information” David Casa tells MONEYVAL

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Views expressed here are the views of the national delegation and do not always reflect the views of the group as a whole
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MONEYVAL is the Council of Europe’s permanent AML monitoring body. MONEYVAL will be evaluating Malta’s compliance with AML laws and their enforcement this November. 

In relation to the leaked FIAU report that calls for police action against Minister Konrad Mizzi, Partit Nazzjonalista Head of Delegation David Casa stated: 

“A crucial element of the Mizzi Report is the role of 17 Black, a company that according to email correspondence between Nexia BT and Mossack Fonseca, was to funnel €150,000 every month each to both Konrad Mizzi and to Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff.

It has been reported that the FIAU has been aware of the identity of the UBO of 17 Black since February 2018. It is relevant to point out that the FIAU did not deny this. The ownership of 17 Black could provide further evidence of high-level corruption and criminal activity to the detriment of the Maltese people. Should the UBO be revealed to be a person or entity connected to a project for which Mizzi and Schembri were responsible, the implications would be serious and far-reaching. It could also imply that criminal activity could be ongoing. 

The Mizzi Report also provides further evidence of the complicity of Nexia BT in corruption and money laundering. In fact, investigators argued that documents were fabricated to support statements made by politicians, that efforts were made to mislead the FIAU and that incriminating evidence was concealed from investigators. It is the FIAU that is responsible for taking action against Nexia BT in view of these breaches of law. So far, Nexia BT has continued to operate without consequence while receiving lucrative government contracts”. 

David Casa also referred to public statements made by the FIAU were the authenticity of the Mizzi Report was put into question. 

“In November MONEYVAL will be in a position to establish the statements made by the FIAU to be false and this will indicate the extent of the political capture of this institution”, stated Casa.

David Casa asked MONVEYVAL to consider the following during their evaluation in November: 

•    The level of deceit in questioning the authenticity of the Mizzi Report with the intention of providing the concerned politicians with a means to falsely challenge the accuracy of the resulting revelations;

•    The circumstances under which the FIAU leaked information concerning their intention to proceed against me to the press and whether this was done at the behest of the politicians it was investigating;

•    The action taken following the FIAU being informed of the identity of 17 Black’s UBO;

•    Whether a wider investigation into the UBO of 17 Black was immediately launched and whether it is progressing without political interference;

•    The lack of action against Nexia BT in contravention of the FIAU’s obligations under AML laws; and

•    The fact that clear evidence of money laundering has not result in enforcement and the prosecution of the concerned suspected criminals.

A copy of the letter sent by David Casa to MONEYVAL is being attached to this press release.

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